While one half of the German Army was thus engaged in a victorious
advance, the other half remained stationary before Metz.
The foremost line of outposts of the investment embraced a circuit of
more than twenty-eight miles. An attempt of the concentrated forces of
the enemy to break through would have met at the beginning of the
blockade with but slight opposition. It was therefore extremely urgent
that the several posts should be strengthened by fortifications. These
works, the clearing of the neighbouring battle-fields, the close watch
kept over every movement of the enemy, the construction of a
telegraph-line connecting the quarters of the several Staffs, and
finally the erection of a sufficiency of shelter, kept the troops and
their leaders amply occupied. Besides the care of the wounded, provision
had to be made for the sick, whose number was daily increased by the
unusually severe weather and lack of shelter. The provisioning of the
troops was, however, facilitated by their stationary attitude, and in
addition there now flowed in upon them from their homes a copious supply
of love-gifts.
The first days of the investment went by without any attempts to break
out on the part of the French. They too were busy reorganizing,
collecting ammunition and supplies.
On the 20th of August Marshal Bazaine had written to Chalons: "I will
give due notice of my march if, taking everything into consideration, I
can undertake any such attempt." On the 23rd he reported to the Emperor:
"If the news of the extensive reductions in the besieging army is
confirmed, I shall set out on the march, and that by way of the northern
fortresses, in order to risk nothing."
SORTIE FROM METZ.
(August 26th.)
On the 26th of August, when the Army of Chalons was still nearly seventy
miles distant from the Ardennes Canal, and its advance on Metz was as
yet not generally known, Marshal Bazaine collected his main forces on
the right bank of the Moselle.
This movement had not escaped the notice of the German posts of
observation, and the field-telegraph at once disseminated the
information.
To support the 3rd Reserve Division at Malroy, ten battalions of the Xth
Corps crossed from the left bank of the Moselle to Argancy on the right
bank. The 25th Division held itself in readiness at the bridge of
Hauconcourt, and the Ist Corps closed up towards Servigny. In the event
of the success of a breach towards the north, the IIIrd, IVth, and part
of the IXth Corps were available to intercept the enemy's march about
Thionville.
The crossing from the island of Chambiere by the field-bridges which had
been built, seriously delayed the French advance; the IIIrd, IInd, IVth,
and VIth Corps, however, by about noon stood closely concentrated
between Mey and Grimont. Advanced detachments had already at several
points driven in the German posts south-east of Metz, but instead of
now entering upon a general attack, Marshal Bazaine summoned all his
Corps Commanders to a conference at Grimont. The Commandant of Metz then
made it known that the artillery ammunition in hand would suffice for
only one battle, that when it was exhausted the army would find itself
defenceless in midst of the German hosts; the fortress, he continued,
was not defensible in its present state, and could not stand a siege if
the army were to be withdrawn from the place. All those things might
certainly have been seen into during the stay in Metz; and much more did
they behove to have been known before the army should cut loose. It was
particularly enforced, "That the preservation of the Army was the best
service that could be rendered to the country, more especially if
negotiations for peace should be entered into." The generals present all
spoke against the prosecution of the proposed movement; and the
Commander-in-Chief, who had refrained from expressing any opinion in the
matter, gave the order to retire at four o'clock.
The whole affair of the 26th of August can only be regarded in the light
of a parade manoeuvre. Bazaine reported to the Minister of War that the
scarcity of artillery ammunition made it "impossible" to break through
the hostile lines, unless an offensive operation from the outside
"should force the enemy to raise the investment." Information as to the
"temper of the people" was earnestly requested.
There is no doubt that Bazaine was influenced, not wholly by military,
but also by political considerations; still it may be asked whether he
could have acted differently in the prevailing confusion of France. From
the correspondence referred to, and his behaviour in the battles before
Metz, his reluctance to quit the place was evident. Under its walls he
could maintain a considerable army in unimpaired condition till the
given moment. At the head of the only French army not yet
shattered,[26] he might find himself in a position of greater power than
any other man in the country. This army must, of course, first be freed
from the bonds which now confined it. Even if it should succeed in
forcibly breaking out it would be greatly weakened; and it was not
inconceivable that the Marshal, as the strongest power in the land,
might be able to offer a price which should induce the enemy to grant
him a passage. Then when at length the time for making peace should
come, the Germans would no doubt ask: "Who in France is the authority
with whom we can negotiate now that the Empire is overthrown, and who is
strong enough to give a guarantee that the obligations which he will
have undertaken shall be performed?" That the Marshal, if his plans had
come to fulfilment, would have acted otherwise than in the interest of
France is neither proved nor to be assumed.
But presently a number of men combined in Paris, who, without consulting
the nation, constituted themselves the Government of the country, and
took the direction of its affairs into their own hands. In opposition to
this party, Marshal Bazaine, with his army at his back, could well come
forward as a rival or a foe; nay, and--this was his crime in the eyes of
the Paris Government--he might restore the authority of the Emperor to
whom he had sworn allegiance. Whether he might not thus have spared his
country longer misery and greater sacrifices may be left undecided. But
that he was subsequently charged with treason obviously arose, no doubt,
from the national vanity of the French, which demanded a "Traitor" as a
scapegoat for the national humiliation.
Soon after this demonstration, for it was nothing more, of the besieged
army, the investing forces were, in fact, reduced by the despatch, on
the 29th, in accordance with orders from the supreme Headquarter, of
the IInd and IIIrd Corps to Briey and Conflans, there to remain. To be
sure, from those positions it was in their power to attack either of the
French Marshals, as might prove requisite; while the XIIIth Corps, newly
formed of the 17th Division, hitherto retained to defend the coast, and
from the Landwehr, was already within a short distance of Metz.
Meanwhile Marshal Bazaine might have realized that he must abandon his
delusion as to a release by means of negotiations; and he now firmly
resolved to cut his way out by dint of force. The troops were served out
with three days' provisions, and the intendance was furnished with a
supply of "iron rations" from the magazines of the fortress. That the
attempt should again be made on the right bank of the Moselle was only
to be expected; since by far the larger portion of the enemy's forces
stood entrenched on the left bank. It would have been very difficult to
traverse that hilly region, intersected by deep ravines; and finally the
army of the Crown Prince on the march to Paris would have had to be
encountered. East of Metz, on the other hand, there afforded ample space
for the full development of the French forces. By bending of the south
the open country was to be reached, offering no effective intercepting
position to the enemy, whose line of investment was weakest in that
direction. The march to the north and along the Belgian frontier
entailed more danger and greater obstacles, yet the Marshal had
explicitly indicated this particular road as that by which he intended
to move. The Army of Chalons was also marching in that direction; its
approach was already reported; and on the 31st of August, on which day,
in fact, Marshal MacMahon's forces reached Stenay[27] in such disastrous
circumstances, Bazaine's army also issued from Metz.
FOOTNOTES:
[26] The Army of Chalons was still unimpaired on August 26th.
[27] "Stenay," probably a slip of the pen for "Sedan," where MacMahon's
army was gathered on August 31st. It never reached Stenay.
BATTLE OF NOISSEVILLE.
(August 31st.)
Of the French Corps then located on the right bank of the Moselle,[28]
the IIIrd was to cover on the right flank the advance of the others; one
Division was ordered to move early in a south-easterly direction with
intent to mislead the enemy, its other three Divisions to take position
threatening Noisseville. Three pontoon bridges were constructed for the
crossing of the rest of the army, and accesses to the heights in front
of St. Julien were prepared. The passage of the IVth and VIth Corps was
to begin at six o'clock, and they were to take a position which, linking
on its right with the IIIrd Corps, should extend from the village of Mey
by Grimont to the Moselle; the IInd Corps and the Guard were to follow
and form a second line. With the passage of the artillery reserve and
the cavalry it was expected that the crossing of the Moselle should be
finished by ten o'clock; the trains were halted on the Isle of
Chambiere. Thus it was intended that by noon five Corps should be ready
for the assault of the section of the line of investment from Retonfay
(on the French right) to Argancy (on the left), a distance of about
seven miles, which space had for its defenders only two German
Divisions.
So early as seven o'clock Montaudon's Division issued from Fort Queuleu,
and heading eastward drove the opposing outposts back on Aubigny. But
this demonstration did not in the least deceive the Germans. The stir in
the French camp had been observed quite early, and when the mist cleared
off and great masses of French troops were seen in front of Fort St.
Julien, an attempt to break through to the north was anticipated with
certainty, and the necessary dispositions were immediately undertaken to
foil the effort.
The 28th Brigade of the VIIth Corps was dispatched to protect
Courcelles, so that thus the 3rd Brigade of the Ist Corps could be
brought nearer to Servigny. The troops of the Xth Corps which could be
spared from their own section of the line of defence on the left bank
were again set in motion to cross to the right, and the IXth Corps was
held in readiness in anticipation of its having eventually to follow.
The IIIrd Corps and the Ist Cavalry Division were recalled from Briey
and directed to the plateau of Privat; the IInd was to stand ready to
move off.
The attempt of the French to break out proved on this day even less
successful than on the 26th; the IVth and VIth Corps crossed each other
at the bridges, and they only reached their rendezvous position at one
o'clock, though it was little more than three miles further; they then
abandoned the intention of an immediate assault, and set about cooking.
A few skirmishes on the east of Aubigny and on the north towards Rupigny
came to nothing. The Imperial Guard did not come up till three o'clock,
the artillery and cavalry were still behind.
As entire quiescence now supervened, the Germans came to the conclusion
that the attack must be intended for the following day. To save the
strength of the troops, part of the reinforcements ordered up had
already been sent back, when, at about four o'clock, the French suddenly
opened a heavy artillery fire.
The Marshal had again summoned his commanders to assemble at Grimont,
this time to inform them of his dispositions for the attack. It was
evident that the French could not advance towards the north until they
had gained elbow-room by means of an offensive movement in the eastern
direction, and had secured their right flank. For even if they succeeded
in breaking through the Malroy-Charly line, they could get no further so
long as the Germans were at Servigny and swept with their fire the plain
as far as the Moselle, a space not more than 5000 paces broad. The
Marshal could not in any case reckon on carrying through his Artillery
Reserve, which did not reach the battle-field until six o'clock, and the
extrication of the baggage trains which had been left behind on the Isle
of Chambiere was clearly impossible. The Cavalry Corps was still
defiling, and could not come up until nine o'clock in the evening.
This unsatisfactory aspect of affairs was in complete accord with the
character of the dispositions of the French commanders.
Marshal Le Boeuf received orders to advance with the IInd and IIIrd
Corps on both sides of the valley of St. Barbe, and outflank from the
south the 1st Prussian Division at Servigny, while the IVth Corps
assailed it in front. The VIth Corps had the task of thrusting forward
against the Reserve Division at Charly-Malroy. Marshal Canrobert was to
command the two latter Corps, and the Guard was to be held back as
reserve.
Thus General von Manteuffel had at first to confront with a small force
a greatly superior enemy. This opposition might be undertaken either in
the St. Barbe position, to outflank which was by no means easy, or on
the line of Servigny--Poix--Failly, which, though more exposed, afforded
much greater scope for the use of artillery. The latter position was
chosen on the advice of General von Bergmann commanding the artillery,
and the Landwehr Brigade was ordered into it from Antilly, where its
place was taken by the 25th Division. Ten batteries were advanced to a
distance of 1000 paces in front of the line of villages held by the
infantry. Their fire proved so superior to that of the enemy, that the
hostile batteries were soon silenced. The attack on Rupigny by the
French IVth Corps, supported on the flank though it was by three
batteries, remained stationary for a considerable time, and as the
Prussians had not yet been driven back on St. Barbe, the VIth French
Corps meanwhile could not enter upon any serious attack on the Reserve
Division at Malroy-Charly. For the same reason Marshal Canrobert
received the order for the present only to send a detachment of his
force to the attack of the village of Failly, the northern point of
support of the Servigny position.
Tixier's Division therefore moved out at 7.30 in the evening from
Villers L'Orme, but met with a most obstinate resistance at Failly.
Though attacked on two sides, pelted by a storm of projectiles, and, as
regarded a part of them, engaged in hand-to-hand fighting, the East
Prussians stoutly held possession of their ground till the Landwehr
Brigade came to their assistance from Vremy.
Up till now the situation southward of Servigny had worn a more
favourable aspect for the French than in this northern re-entering angle
between two hostile positions; their IInd and IIIrd Corps in the former
quarter had only the 3rd Brigade of the Ist Prussian Corps to deal with
in front of Retonfay. Montaudon's and Metman's Divisions moved down by
way of Nouilly into the valley of the Vallieres brook; Clinchant's
Brigade stormed the brewery in the face of strong resistance, and by
seven o'clock the defenders of Noisseville were forced to evacuate the
place. Montoy and Flanville were also taken possession of by the French,
and further south the outposts of the German 4th Brigade were thrown
back through Coincy and Chateau Aubigny. The batteries of the 1st
Division, after enduring for a long time the fire of strong swarms of
tirailleurs from the deep hollow south of them, were forced about seven
o'clock to retire in echelon to the infantry position on the
Poix--Servigny line, fending off for a time the pursuing enemy with
case-shot.
But to this position the Prussians now held on staunchly, although
completely out-flanked on their left. Potier's Brigade ascended the
northern slope of the Vallieres valley, but found it impossible to
reach Servigny. A moment later Cissey's Brigade rushed forward from the
west, and seized the graveyard outside the village. The French IVth
Corps struck at the centre of the Prussian position, but without
success. Its effort to penetrate between Poix and Servigny was
frustrated by the offensive stroke delivered by the battalions of the
2nd Brigade constituting the last reserve--a counter attack in which all
the troops at hand at once joined. With drums beating they hurled
themselves on the French, swept them out of the graveyard, and drove
them back down the slope.
In support of the fierce fight here, the 3rd Brigade about half-past
eight marched on Noisseville, whence it promptly expelled the small
detachment found in possession, but subsequently yielded to superior
numbers, and withdrew to St. Marais.
The din of strife had now fallen silent at all points, and the fight
seemed to be ended. The infantry of the 1st Division were moving into
the villages, and the artillery was going into bivouac, when suddenly at
nine o'clock a great mass of French infantry advanced in the darkness to
an attack on Servigny. This proved to be Aymard's Division; it entered
the village without firing a shot, surprised the garrison, and drove it
out after a fierce hand-to-hand fight. This episode remained unnoticed
for a long time, even by the nearest troops; but these then rushed to
arms, and pouring in from all sides, drove the French back beyond the
graveyard, which thenceforth remained in German possession.
It was now ten o'clock at night. The 1st Division had kept its ground
against an enemy of superior strength; but the French had penetrated
into the unoccupied gap between the 3rd and 4th Brigades, and were a
standing menace to the German flank at Servigny from their position at
Noisseville.
_September 1st._--The 18th Division, by a night-march, crossed
from the left to the right bank of the Moselle at four o'clock
in the morning, and reinforced with a brigade both flanks of the line
Malroy--Charly--Bois de Failly. The 25th Division was now able to fall
back from Antilly to St. Barbe, where, with the 6th Landwehr Brigade, it
formed a reserve for the Poix--Servigny position.
On the morning of the 1st of September a thick mist still shrouded the
plain when all the troops stood to arms.
Marshal Bazaine now again indicated to his generals the seizure of St.
Barbe as the prime objective, since that alone could render possible the
march to the north; and he added, "In the event of failure, we shall
maintain our positions." This expression could only indicate the
intention, in the event specified, of remaining under shelter of the
cannon of Metz, and evinced but little confidence in the success of the
enterprise now engaged in.[29]
So early as five o'clock the 3rd Brigade had deployed on the Saarlouis
road to prevent the further progress of the enemy on the left flank of
the 1st Division. It swept the slopes in the direction of Montoy with
the fire of twenty guns, and when Noisseville had been well plied for a
considerable time by the fire of the artillery of the 2nd Brigade, about
seven o'clock the 43rd Regiment carried the village by storm. A fierce
fight ensued in and about the houses: two French brigades struck into
the combat, and after a long whirl of fighting the German regiment was
driven out again. Battalions of the 3rd Brigade came up just as the
fight was over, but the attack was not renewed.
Now that the direction of the French effort to break out was no longer
doubtful, the 28th Brigade had started from Courcelles at six in the
morning to reinforce the Ist Corps. Its two batteries silenced those of
the French at Montoy, and then directed their fire on Flanville. The
enemy soon began to abandon the burning village, which, at nine o'clock,
the Rhinelanders entered from the south and the East Prussians from the
north. Marshal Le Boeuf again sent forward Bastoul's Division on Montoy,
but the extremely effective fire of the Prussian artillery compelled it
to turn back.
The 3rd Brigade had meanwhile taken up a position on the upland of
Retonfay, where it was now joined by the 28th. The 3rd Cavalry Division
was reinforced by the Hessian Horse Brigade, and these troops with the
artillery mass made up presently to 114 guns, formed a rampart against
any further progress of the IInd and IIIrd French Corps.
The fighting had now died out on the right wing of the French army; but
the IVth Corps had been enjoined to await the direct advance of the
troops of that wing before renewing its attack on the artillery-front
and village entrenchments of the line from Servigny to Poix, whose
strength had been proved on the previous day. But towards eleven
o'clock, after Noisseville had been heavily bombarded, the 3rd Prussian
Brigade, supported by the Landwehr, advanced southward of the position,
pushed its attack against that point, and compelled the French to
withdraw from the burning village.
Marshal Canrobert, on the northern front of the sortie, had brought up
his batteries at Chieulles by half-past eight, and their fire, seconded
by that of the artillery of the fortress, caused a temporary evacuation
of Rupigny; but the village was soon reoccupied. Tixier's Division had
made two fruitless attempts to seize Failly, and now, on the other hand,
the 36th Brigade of the 18th Division came up, and taking the offensive
in conjunction with the Reserve Division, at ten o'clock drove the
French back over the Chieulles stream. They made still another
onslaught on Failly, but the flanking fire made this also a failure.
Marshal Le Boeuf, though he still had more than two Divisions to oppose
it, held himself obliged to retreat on account of the approach of the
Prussian 3rd Brigade on his right flank; and in consequence of the
receipt of this intelligence, Marshal Bazaine at mid-day ordered the
fighting to be broken off at all other points.
The Army of the Rhine which issued from Metz on August 31st, with a
strength of 137,000 men,[30] had been successfully opposed by no more
than 36,000 Prussians. In this battle for the first time in the war the
French were the assailants, the Germans had the role of the defence.
That the Germans lost 3400 men against the loss of 3000 by the French,
must be attributed to the higher properties of the infantry weapon of
the latter. But the superiority of the Prussian artillery was decisively
proved, and this it was which rendered possible General von Manteuffel's
unshaken resistance.
The VIIth Corps remained on the right bank of the Norelle, where the
line of investment was now further strengthened by the arrival of the
XIIIth Corps under the command of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. On the
left bank the IInd and IIIrd Corps were now able to return to their
respective previous positions. On the same day and at about the same
hour when the destruction of one French army was completed at Sedan, the
other was returning to an apparently more and more hopeless detention in
Metz. Thus the issue of the war was already beyond doubt after a
campaign of but two months' duration; though the war itself was far from
being ended.
FOOTNOTES:
[28] The IInd and IIIrd Army.
[29] The wording of Bazaine's order dispenses with any speculation on
this point. He wrote, "In the event of failure, we shall maintain our
positions, strengthen ourselves therein, _and retire in the evening
under Forts St. Julien and Queuleu_."
[30] The estimate of the total strength of the Army of the Rhine on the
22nd August is given at 137,728 men in the German Staff History. It
deducts for garrison and normal outpost duty details amounting to over
17,000 men; and reckons the marching out strength for the battle of 31st
August--1st September at "about 120,000 men."
CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN PARIS.
When, in the night of the 4th of September, the news of the disaster of
Sedan and the Emperor's surrender became known in Paris, the Legislative
Body met in a rapidly successive series of sittings for the purpose of
selecting an Administrative Committee. The mob cut those deliberations
short by forcing its way into the Chamber and proclaiming the Republic
there and at the Hotel de Ville, amidst the acclamations of the people.
Though the troops were under arms in their barracks, the Government till
now in power offered no resistance; the Empress left Paris; General
Trochu and several members of the Minority in the Chamber combined to
form a Government, which they styled "The Government of National Defence
and War." "War to the bitter end" was its motto, and the entire nation
was to be called to arms. Not an inch of territory, not a stone of the
fortresses was to be yielded up to the enemy.
Such a Government, devoid of any legitimate foundation, necessarily
thirsted for results, and could be little disposed to allow the war to
end in peace.
Notwithstanding all the early reverses of the war, France was too rich
in resources to find herself as yet by any means defenceless. General
Vinoy was still in the field. All the scattered Corps, the Marine troops
and the Gendarmerie could gather to him. There was, too, the
"Territorial Militia," numbering 468,000 men, an institution which the
country owed to Marshal Niel, whose far-seeing work of reorganization
had been cut short only too soon. Further, there was available to be
called up the falling-due contingent of 100,000 conscripts, as well as
the National Guard. It followed that France was thus able to put into
the field a million of men, without reckoning Franctireurs and Volunteer
Corps. The reserve store of 2000 guns and 400,000 Chassepots assured the
means of armament, and the workshops of neutral England were ready and
willing to fulfil commissions. Such resources for war, backed by the
active patriotism of the nation, could maintain a prolonged resistance
if a master will should inspire it with energy.
And such a will was disclosed in the person of Gambetta.
Minister of War, he had at the same time, by the French system of
government, the direction of military operations, and certainly he was
not the man to loosen his grasp of the chief command. For in a Republic,
a victorious general at the head of the Army would at once have become
Dictator in his stead. M. de Freycinet, another civilian, served under
Gambetta as a sort of Chief of the General Staff, and the energetic, but
dilettante, commandership exercised by these gentlemen cost France very
dear. Gambetta's rare energy and unrelenting determination availed,
indeed, to induce the entire population to take up arms, but not to
direct these hasty levies with comprehensive unity of purpose. Without
giving them time to be trained into fitness for the field, with ruthless
severity he despatched them into the field in utter inefficiency as they
were called out, to attempt the execution of ill-digested plans against
an enemy on whose firm solidity all their courage and devotion was
inevitably wrecked. He prolonged the struggle at the cost of heavy
sacrifices on both sides, without turning the balance in favour of
France.
In any event the German chiefs had still great difficulties to overcome.
The battles already won had cost heavy losses; in officers especially
the losses were irreparable. Half the army was detained before Metz and
Strasburg. The transport and guarding of already more than 200,000
prisoners required the services of a large part of the new levies being
formed at home. The numerous fortresses had not indeed hindered the
invasion of the German army, but they had to be invested or kept under
observation to secure the rearward communications, and to safeguard the
forwarding and victualling of troops; and each further advance into the
enemy's country involved increased drafts of armed men. After the battle
of Sedan only 150,000 men were available for further operations in the
field. There could be no doubt that the new objective must be Paris, as
the seat of the new Government and the centre of gravity, so to speak,
of the whole country. On the very day of the capitulation of Sedan, all
the dispositions were made for the renewal of the advance.
To spare the troops, the movement was to be carried out on a very broad
front, which involved no risk, for of the French Corps, the XIIIth alone
could possibly cause any detention. And, indeed, only Blanchard's
Division of that Corps was now at Mezieres; its other two Divisions had
but just begun their march when they received orders to halt preparatory
to returning (to Paris).
RETREAT OF GENERAL VINOY.
General Vinoy's most urgent anxiety was--very rightly--to reach Paris
with the least possible loss. This was not very easy to accomplish,
since the VIth Prussian Corps, which had taken no part in the battle of
Sedan, was at Attigny in such a position that as a matter of distance,
as far as to Laon, it could reach any point of any line of the enemy's
retreat before, or as soon as the latter. General von Tuempling,
commanding that Corps, had already taken possession of Rethel with the
12th Division by the evening of September 1st, thus closing the
high-road to Paris. Only extraordinary forced marching and a succession
of fortunate circumstances could save from destruction Blanchard's
Division, which had already wasted its ammunition in small conflicts.
General Vinoy supplied the troops with several days' rations, enjoined
the strictest discipline on the march, and during the night between 1st
and 2nd September set out on the road to Rethel, where he expected to
find Exea's Division; which, however, availing itself of the section of
railway still undestroyed, had already gone back to Soissons.
It was still early morning (of 2nd) when the French column of march came
in contact with the 5th and presently with the 6th Prussian Cavalry
Divisions, without, however, being seriously attacked. It was not till
about ten o'clock, and within about seven miles of Rethel, that the
French general learnt that place was in hostile possession, whereupon he
decided on turning westward to Novion Porcien. He sent his rear-guard
against the enemy's horse-artillery, but seeing hardly anything but
cavalry in its front, it soon resumed the march. At about four in the
afternoon the Division reached Novion, where it went into bivouac.
General von Hoffmann (commanding the 12th Prussian Division) had taken
up a position at Rethel, and was awaiting the enemy, of whose approach
he had been warned. Having ridden out in person, he became aware of
Vinoy's deviation from the Rethel road, and at four in the afternoon
marched to Ecly, where he arrived late in the evening. Part of his
troops scouted forward toward Chateau Porcien.
General Vinoy, on learning that this road, too, was closed to him,
quited his bivouac again at half-past one on the morning (of 3rd),
leaving his fires burning, and set out on a second night-march in
pouring rain and total darkness.
At first he took a northerly direction, to reach Laon at worst by the
byways. By tracks fathomless in mud, and with frequent alarms, but
without being reached by the enemy, he trudged into Chateau Porcien at
half-past seven on the morning of the 3rd, and there halted for a couple
of hours. The trend of the roads now compelled him again to take a
southerly direction, and when the head of his column reached
Seraincourt, the sound of firing told him that his rear had been
attacked by the Germans.
The Prussian cavalry had, early the same morning, discovered the French
departure, but this important information found General von Hoffmann no
longer in Ecly. He had already started thence to search for the enemy at
Novion-Porcien, where he might well be expected to be after his first
night-march, but at half-past nine the Prussian general found the place
empty. Thus, that morning, the German and French Divisions had marched
past each other in different directions at a distance apart of little
more than four miles. The thick weather had prevented them seeing each
other. General Vinoy this day reached Montcornet, in what plight may be
imagined. The 12th Division continued its pursuit in the westerly
direction, but came up only with the rear stragglers of the
fast-retreating enemy, and took up alarm-quarters in Chaumont Porcien.
This march of the enemy ought not indeed to have remained unobserved and
unchecked under the eye of two Cavalry Divisions, but it has to be said
that these were called off at an unfortunate moment.
It was, in fact, in consequence of a report that the French forces were
assembled at Rheims, that the Headquarter of the IIIrd Army had ordered
the immediate return of the VIth Corps and the two Divisions of cavalry.
These at once relinquished the pursuit, and General von Tuempling ordered
his two Infantry Divisions to march at once on Rheims. The 11th, which
had been holding Rethel, set out forthwith. General von Hoffmann, on the
contrary, followed up the French, on his own responsibility, as far as
was possible without cavalry to overtake them. Not till the following
day did the 12th Division reach the Suippe.
_September 4th._--General Vinoy made his way northward again, by way of
Marle, where he received the news of the Emperor's surrender and of the
outbreak of the revolution in Paris. His presence there was now of the
greatest importance, and on the 13th he reached the French capital with
the two other divisions of his Corps from Laon and Soissons.
THE MARCH ON PARIS
OF THE IIIRD ARMY AND THE ARMY OF THE MEUSE.
During these occurrences the German armies, on the 4th September, had
begun their advance on Paris. The first thing to be done was to
disentangle the mass of troops assembled in the cramped space around
Sedan. The IIIrd Army, of which the XIth and the Ist Bavarian Corps were
still remaining there, had to make two long marches forward in order
that the Army of the Meuse should regain its line of supply
(Etappen-line).
The news of a great assemblage of French troops at Rheims soon proved to
be unfounded. Early on the 4th, detachments of Prussian horse entered
the hostile and excited city, the 11th Division arrived that afternoon,
and on the following day the German King's head-quarters were
established in the old city where the French Kings had been wont to be
crowned.
On the 10th of September the IIIrd Army had reached the line
Dormans--Sezanne, and the VIth Corps had pushed forward to Chateau
Thierry. The Army of the Meuse, after the failure of a coup-de-main on
Montmedy, was advancing between Rheims and Laon. Cavalry sent far in
advance covered this march executed on a front so exceptionally broad.
The scouts everywhere found the inhabitants in a very hostile temper;
the franctireurs attacked with great recklessness, and had to be driven
out of several villages by dismounted troopers. The roads were in many
places wrecked by the tearing up of the stone pavement, and the bridges
were blown up.
On the approach of the 6th Cavalry Division Laon had capitulated. Small
detachments of troops of the line were taken prisoners, 25 guns, 100
stores of arms and ammunition were seized as prizes, and 2000
Gardes-Mobiles were dismissed to their homes on parole to take no
further part in the war. While friends and foes were assembled in large
numbers in the courtyard of the citadel, the powder-magazine blew up,
having probably been intentionally fired, and did great damage both
there and in the town. The Prussians had fifteen officers and
ninety-nine men killed and wounded; among the wounded were the
Division-Commander and his general-staff officer. The French lost 300
men; the commandant of the fortress was mortally wounded.
On the 16th the Army of the Meuse was between Nanteuil and
Lizy-on-Ourcq; the 5th Cavalry Division had advanced to Dammartin; the
6th to beyond Beaumont, sending patrols up to before St. Denis. The
IIIrd Army was spread over the area from Meaux to Compte Robert. Strong
military bridges had been thrown over the Marne at Trilport and Lagny to
replace the permanent ones which had been blown up, and on the 17th the
Vth Corps reached the Upper Seine.
To secure the draw-bridges at Villeneuve St. Georges, the 17th Brigade
pushed on down the right bank of the Seine towards Paris, and at Mont
Mesly it encountered Exea's Division, which had been sent out by General
Vinoy to bring in or destroy stores of supplies. The fight which ensued
ended in the French being driven back under shelter of Fort Charenton.
The IInd Bavarian Corps also reached the Seine on this day and bridged
the river at Corbeil. The 2nd Cavalry Division was in observation in
front of Saclay, towards Paris. The Royal head-quarter moved to Meaux by
way of Chateau Thierry. The complete investment of the French capital
was now imminent.
The works constructed under Louis Philippe effectually protected the
city from being taken by storm. The artillery armament of the place
consisted of over 2627 pieces, including 200 of the largest calibres of
naval ordnance. There were 500 rounds for each gun, and in addition a
reserve of three million kilogrammes of powder. As concerned the active
strength of the garrison, besides the XIIIth Corps which had returned
from Mezieres, a new Corps, the XIVth, had been raised in Paris itself.
These 50,000 troops of the line, 14,000 highly efficient and staunch
marines and sailors, and about 8000 gensd'armes, customs officers, and
forest-guards, formed the core of the defence. There were besides
115,000 Gardes-Mobiles, who had been drawn in from outside at an earlier
date. The National Guard was formed into 130 battalions, which, however,
being defective in equipment and poorly disciplined, could be employed
only in the defence of the inner circle of fortifications. The
volunteers, though numerous, proved for the most part useless.
In all the besieged force was over 300,000 strong, thus it was far more
than double the strength of the besiegers as yet on the spot, of whom
there were at the outside only about 60,000 men available, with 5000
cavalry and 124 field-batteries. On the Seine the defence had five
floating batteries and nine section-built gunboats originally intended
for the Rhine; on the railways were some guns mounted on armour-plated
trucks.
Great difficulties necessarily attended the victualling of two million
human beings for a long period; however, the authorities had succeeded
in gathering into Paris 3000 oxen, 6000 swine, and 180,000 sheep, with
considerable stores of other provisions, so that perfect confidence was
justifiable, that Paris could hold out for six weeks at least.
Orders issued from the head-quarter at Meaux charged the Army of the
Meuse with the investment of the capital on the right bank of the Seine
and Marne,[31] and the IIIrd Army with the section on the left bank of
both rivers. As a general rule the troops were to remain beyond range of
the fire of the fortress, but, short of that, were to keep as close as
possible so as to curtail the circuit of environment. The close
connection of the two armies was to be secured above Paris by several
bridges across both the rivers, and below the city, by the cavalry
occupying Poissy. To the IIIrd Army was to belong the duty of
reconnoitring in the direction of Orleans. In case of any attempt to
relieve the capital it was to allow the relieving force to approach
within a short distance, and then, leaving the investment to be
maintained by weak details, to strike the enemy with its main body.
Without relief from outside, a close passive blockade must inevitably
result in the capitulation of Paris, though probably not for some weeks
or even months. As an ultimate compulsory measure there remained
recourse to a bombardment.
At the time when Paris was fortified it was not foreseen that
improvements in the artillery arm would double or treble the range of
fire. The exterior forts, especially on the south, were at so short a
distance from the enceinte that the city could easily be reached by the
fire of heavy batteries.
The Germans have been blamed for not having had recourse at an earlier
date to this expedient of bombardment; but this criticism indicates an
inadequate appreciation of the difficulties which stood in the way of
its earlier execution.
It may safely be accepted that the attack of a large fortified place in
the heart of an enemy's country is simply impossible so long as the
invader is not master of the railways or waterways leading to it, by
which may be brought up in full quantity the requisite material. The
conveyance of this by the ordinary highways, even for a short distance,
is in itself a herculean undertaking. Up to this time the German army
had the control of only one railway in French territory, and this was
fully occupied in the maintenance of supplies for the armies in the
field: in bringing up reinforcements and equipment; in conveying
rearward wounded, sick and prisoners. But even this much of railway
service ended at Toul; and the attempt to turn that fortress by laying a
temporary section of line found insurmountable difficulties in the
nature of the ground. Further forward there interposed itself a scarcely
inferior obstacle in the complete destruction of the Nanteuil tunnel, to
repair which would probably require weeks.
Even then, for the further transport from Nanteuil up to the Paris front
of 300 heavy guns with 500 rounds for each gun, there were requisite
4500 four-wheeled waggons, such as were not in use in the country, and
10,000 horses. Thus a bombardment was, in the earlier period, not to be
thought of, and in any case the object of it would not be to destroy
Paris, but merely to exert a final pressure on the inhabitants; and this
influence would be more effectual when a long blockade had shaken the
resolution of the besieged than it was likely to be at the beginning of
the investment.
_September 18th._--Corresponding directions communicated to the
respective army commands, ordered the resumption of the march on the
enemy's capital.
On the 18th the Army of the Meuse, swinging leftward, had the XIIth
Corps at Claye, the Guard Corps at Mitry, and the IVth Corps at
Dammartin, one march from Paris.
All the villages in front of St. Denis were occupied by the French. It
seemed as if the investment on the north front of Paris would be
resisted, and the Crown Prince of Saxony took measures for next day to
follow up and support the IVth Corps, which led the advance. The 5th and
6th Cavalry Divisions, hastening on to Pontoise, were given two
companies of Jaegers and a pontoon train, and after a bridge had been
laid they crossed the Oise.
The Vth Corps of the IIIrd Army passed over the Seine at
Villeneuve-St.-Georges and advanced to Palaiseau and the Upper Bievre.
The advanced guard came into collision with Bernis' French Cavalry
Brigade. The 47th Regiment at once proceeded to the attack, and stormed
the walled farmsteads of Dame Rose and Trivaux. But on the southern
skirt of the forest of Meudon the whole of the French XIVth Corps was
drawn up; on its left stood a Division of the XIIIth Corps. The regiment
retired on Petit Bicetre without being followed, and there took up a
defensive position.
The IInd Bavarian Corps marched from Corbeil by Longjumeau on a parallel
front with the Vth Corps, and on the right the VIth occupied both banks
of the Seine. These Corps, too, had several brushes with the enemy.
The Wuertemberg Division at Lagny and Gournay was to cross the Marne
forthwith, and so establish communication between the two armies.
FOOTNOTE:
[31] Viz., from the Marne above Paris in a wide half-circle to the Seine
below it. The rayon of the Army of the Meuse subsequently extended to
the right bank of the Seine above Paris.
INVESTMENT OF PARIS.
(September 19th.)
On the 19th September the IVth Corps met with no opposition in its
advance to St. Brice; it drove detachments of the enemy from the
neighbouring villages back under cover of the heavy guns of St. Denis,
and pushed forward towards the Lower Seine. The Guard Corps followed it
as far as Dugny, and lined the Moree brook, which was dammed up at its
mouth, and afforded useful cover for the line of investment along a
considerable distance. Further to the left the XIIth Corps took up a
position extending to the Marne, and on the left bank of that river the
Wuertemberg Division advanced to Champigny.
On this day the Vth Corps of the IIIrd Army marched on Versailles in two
columns. The 47th Regiment had again the duty of covering the march
along the hostile front. The French evidently were anxious to remain
masters of the important heights in front of the fortifications of
Paris, and in the early morning two divisions of their XIVth Corps
marched out of the neighbouring forest of Meudon against Petit Bicetre
and Villacoublay. Supported by a numerous artillery, which set on fire
the farm-buildings of Petit Bicetre, they drove back the German
outposts; but reinforcements from the Vth Corps presently came up to
Villacoublay, and to Abbaye aux Bois from the IInd Bavarian Corps.
The left brigade of the latter had crossed the columns marching on
Versailles in the valley of the Bievre; but the sound of fighting from
the field of strife induced General von Dietl[32] to advance with his
detachments as they came up singly, on both sides of the high-road to
Bicetre. A conjunct assault with the Prussians still fighting in the
Bois de Garenne, was successful in repulsing the French at Pave blanc.
Meanwhile the enemy by half-past eight had formed an artillery front of
fifty guns, and three regiments of march advanced to renew the attack on
Petit Bicetre and the Bois de Garenne. They were received with a
destructive musketry fire, and not even General Ducrot's personal
influence could persuade the troops, who were young recruits, to go
forward. The Zouaves posted about the farm of Trivaux were finally
thrown into such confusion by some shells falling among them that they
hurried back to Paris in headlong flight.
General Ducrot had to abandon his attempt. His Divisions retired in
evident disorder on Clamart and Fontenay, under cover of the artillery
and of the cavalry, which had resolutely endured the hostile fire;
pursued at their heels by the German troops. The Bavarians stormed Pave
blanc under a heavy cannon fire; the Prussians retook Dame Rose after a
trivial skirmish, and pushed on past the farm of Trivaux into the forest
of Meudon. The French still held the heights of Plessis-Piquet, which
were to them of vast importance and very easy of defence, as well as the
redoubt at Moulin de la Tour, where nine field-batteries at once came
into action, the fire from which commanded the whole of the western
field of operations.
The main body of the Bavarian Corps had meanwhile moved southward, and
during its advance on Fontenay aux Roses, about nine o'clock, it came
under a hot fire from the height, as well as a flanking fire from a
redoubt near Hautes Bruyeres. Being informed of the situation at the
scene of conflict on the plateau of Bicetre, General von Hartmann (the
Corps Commander) at once sent thither an artillery reinforcement, and
ordered the 5th Brigade to attempt a junction to his left by way of
Malabry. As soon as this brigade had deployed under a hot Chassepot and
artillery fire between Pave blanc and Malabry, General von Walther
(commanding 3rd Bavarian Division) passed to the attack of
Plessis-Piquet. The artillery advanced to a short distance on the hither
side of the park wall, and then the infantry broke out from the wood of
Verrieres, and, after a brief but sharp struggle, took possession of the
mill lying to the southward. After half an hour's artillery preparation,
the Bavarians advanced on Hachette by rushes, and broke into the park
of Plessis. The French kept up a hot fire from the redoubt of Moulin de
la Tour on the localities wrenched from them, by which the Bavarian
field batteries suffered severely; but they still effectively supported
the further advance of the infantry, who now got close in under the
earthworks. However, the defenders were already on the point of
retiring, and when about three o'clock one Bavarian company entered, it
found the place deserted and the guns left in position.
Caussade's Division had left Clamart and was on the way to Paris;
Maussion's had abandoned the heights of Bagneux on the pretence of
having received mistaken orders, and Hughes' Division was with
difficulty brought to a halt under cover of Fort Montrouge.
The Bavarian Corps now took up the position it had won on the plateau of
Bicetre to the right of the Vth Corps. The fight had cost the former 265
men and the latter 178; the French lost 661 killed and above 300
prisoners.
The condition in which the French XIVth Corps returned to Paris caused
such dismay that General Trochu found himself obliged to withdraw a
Division of the XIIIth from Vincennes for the defence of the enceinte.
It was subsequently argued that it would have been possible to capture
one of the forts on this day by forcing an entrance along with the
fugitive enemy, with the result of materially shortening the siege. But
the forts did not need to open their gates to shelter fugitives, to whom
those of the capital stood open. The escalade of masonry escarpments
eighteen feet high can never be successful without much preparation.
Ventures of this character are rarely ordered by superior authority; but
can be attempted only in a propitious moment by those on the spot. In
this case probable failure would have endangered the important success
of the day.
The Vth Corps had meanwhile proceeded on its march to Versailles; a few
National Guards, who had collected at the entrance to the town, were
driven off or disarmed by the German Hussars. The 9th Division held the
eastern exits of the town, the 10th encamped at Rocquencourt, and strong
outposts were pushed out on the Bougival--Sevres line. The 18th Brigade,
which remained at Villacoubay to support the Bavarians in case of need,
did not reach Versailles until the evening.
The 3rd Bavarian Division remained on the heights in front of Plessis
Piquet, its outposts confronting the forest of Meudon, where the French
were still in possession of the chateau; and the pioneers at once
altered the redoubt of La Tour du Moulin so as to front north. The 12th
Division was encamped at Fontenay and rearward as far as Chatenay.
The main body of the VIth Corps had taken position at Orly, its outposts
extending from Choisy le Roi past Thiais to Chevilly. Maud'huy's
Division attempted to drive in the outpost line at the last-named
village, but without success. A brigade of the same Corps at Limeil, on
the right bank of the Seine, was engaged in skirmishing with the French
at Creteil. Within touch, further to the right, the Wuertemberg Division
held the (left) bank of the Marne from Ormesson to Noisy le Grand,
behind which latter place the pontoon bridge near Gournay assured
communication with the Saxon Corps.
Thus on the 19th of September the investment of Paris was complete on
all sides. Six Army Corps stood in a deployment some fifty miles in
circumference immediately in front of the enemy's capital, in some
places actually within range of his guns, its rear guarded by a large
force of cavalry.
FOOTNOTE:
[32] Commanding 1st Bavarian Infantry Brigade.
FIRST NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
In full expectation of a battle to the north of Paris, the King had
ridden out to join the Guard Corps, and in the evening his head-quarters
were moved to Ferrieres.
Here thus early Monsieur Jules Favre made his appearance to negotiate
for peace on the basis of "not one foot of soil." He believed that after
all their victories and losses, the Germans would come to terms on
payment of a sum of money. It was self-evident that such a proposal
could not be taken into consideration, and only the eventuality of
granting an armistice was seriously discussed.
It was in the political interest of Germany as well, to afford the
French nation the possibility of establishing by its own free and
regular election a government which should have full right to conclude a
peace creditable to the people; for the self-constituted de facto
Government ruling in Paris was the offspring of a revolution, and might
at any moment be removed by a counter-revolution.
From a military point of view it was true that any pause in the active
operations was a disadvantage. It would afford the enemy time to push
forward his preparations, and by raising for a time the investment of
Paris would give the capital the opportunity to reprovision itself at
discretion.
The armistice could, therefore, only be granted in consideration of a
corresponding equivalent.
To secure the subsistence of the respective German armies, Strasburg and
Toul, which now intercepted the railway communication, must be given
over. The siege of Metz was to be maintained; but with regard to Paris,
either the blockade was to continue; or, if it were raised, one of the
forts commanding the capital was to be occupied by the Germans. The
Chamber of Deputies was to be allowed to meet at Tours in full freedom.
These conditions, especially the surrender of the fortified places, were
absolutely rejected on the French side, and the negotiations were broken
off. Eight days later Toul and Strasburg were in the hands of the
Germans.
REDUCTION OF TOUL.
(September 23rd.)
As soon as the German coast seemed no longer threatened by the danger of
a landing of French troops, the 17th Division, which had been left
behind there, was ordered to join the army in France. It arrived before
Toul on September 12th.
This place, in itself exempt from capture by storm but commanded by
neighbouring heights, had till now been invested by Etappen troops of
the IIIrd Army, and shelled by the guns taken at Marsal and with
field-guns, but without any particular effect. The infantry on the other
hand had established a footing behind the railway embankment and in the
suburbs close up to the foot of the glacis, so that sorties by the
garrison were rendered almost impossible. In view of these circumstances
half the Division was presently sent to Chalons, where sixteen
battalions and fifteen squadrons barely sufficed to deal with the
extremely hostile attitude of the people, hold the Etappen-lines and
safeguard the communication with Germany. Thus only seven battalions,
four squadrons, and four field-batteries remained before Toul.
On the 18th there arrived from Nancy by railway ten 15 cm. and sixteen
12 cm. siege guns. The intention was to attack the western face, which
was enfiladed from Mont St. Michel, and then to breach the south-west
bastion; but first an (unsuccessful) attempt was made to reduce the
place by the shorter process of subjecting it to a bombardment with
field artillery.
On the night of the 22nd battery-emplacements for the siege artillery
were constructed by the infantry; three on Mont St. Michel, seven on the
heights on the left bank of the Moselle, and one on the right bank. Next
morning sixty-two guns opened fire, and at half-past three in the
afternoon the white flag was hoisted on the Cathedral.
The handing over of the place followed the same day (23rd), on the
conditions as had been granted at Sedan. A hundred and nine officers
were released on parole, 2240 rank and file were taken prisoners. Six
companies took possession the same evening of the city, which on the
whole had suffered little.
Twenty-one heavy guns, about 3000 stand of arms, and large stores of
provisions and forage were the prizes of success.
REDUCTION OF STRASBURG.
(September 28th.)
Immediately after the victory of Woerth, the reduction of Strasburg
became a primary object. This strong fortified position, bridge-head as
it was commanding the Rhine, was a standing menace to Southern Germany.
When Marshal MacMahon evacuated Alsace, only three battalions of the
line were left with the commandant of Strasburg. But with stragglers
from the various regiments engaged at Woerth, with sundry fourth
battalions and reserve detachments, and finally with Mobiles and
National Guards, the strength of the garrison had increased to 23,000
men. There was a complete absence of engineer troops, but 130 marines
formed an excellent nucleus; the armament of the fortress was also
ample.
So early as on the 11th August the Baden Division had been detailed to
observe Strasburg. Notwithstanding the smallness of its force the
Division had advanced unchecked by the enemy on the Ruprechtsau as far
as the Rhine-and-Ill Canal; had occupied the village of Schiltigheim,
almost within rifle-shot of the fortifications: and, having promptly
prepared it for defence, pushed forward into the suburb of Koenigshofen.
In the course of eight days there arrived, under the command of General
von Werder, the Guard Landwehr and 1st Reserve Divisions, and one
cavalry brigade, in all 46 battalions, 24 squadrons, and 18
field-batteries; as well as a siege-train of 200 rifled cannon and 88
mortars, with 6000 foot artillerymen and ten companies of
fortress-pioneers; a total strength of 40,000 men.
The unloading of the guns brought from Magdeburg, Coblentz, and Wesel
was begun on August 18th at the railway station of Vendenheim, by a
detachment of the Railway Battalion.
The engineer-depot was established at Hausberge, a wagon-park at
Lampertsheim, and provision made for permanent magazines. A complete
blockade was established, and the field-telegraph kept up communication
between all the posts.
To attain the desired end with the least possible delay, an attempt was
made, contrary to the advice of General of Engineers Schultz, though
with the sanction of the supreme Head-quarter, to force the town to
surrender by stress of a bombardment. The request that the women and
children should be allowed to withdraw was necessarily refused.
The erection of the batteries for the bombardment in the dark, wet
nights was attended with great difficulties. Meanwhile only the
field-guns could fire on the city; but the batteries whose armament of
heavy guns was complete opened fire on the night of the 24th--25th; and
soon a great fire was raging. Kehl, on the right bank of the river, was
also set on fire by the shell-fire.
The Bishop of Strasburg came out to the outposts at Schiltigheim to
entreat forbearance for the citizens. Much as damage to this German city
was to be regretted, since the Prelate was not empowered to negotiate
the bombardment was continued through the night of the 25th, when it
reached its height. But the headquarter staff at Mundolsheim became
convinced that this mode of attack would not accomplish the desired
object, and that the more deliberate course of a regular siege would
have to be resorted to. General von Mertens was placed in charge of the
engineer operations, General Decker was given the direction of the
artillery.
During the night of the 29th--30th August the first parallel was opened
very close to the glacis, and soon was prolonged from the Rhine and
Marne canal, through the churchyard of St. Helena, to the Jewish
cemetery at Koenigshofen.
The number of batteries on the left bank of the Rhine was soon increased
to 21, on the right bank to 4; so that 124 guns of the heaviest calibre
were ready in protected positions to begin the contest with the guns of
the fortress. The further offensive operations were directed against
bastions Nos. 11 and 12 on the north-west salient of the fortress. In
the night of September 1st--2nd the second parallel was completed, but
not without opposition. A strong sortie of fourteen companies of the
garrison made at daybreak (of 2nd) upon the island of Waken, and in
front of Kronenburg and Koenigshofen, was repulsed.
The fortress then opened a heavy fire, pouring such a storm of
projectiles on the siege-works that they had to be abandoned, till at
about nine o'clock the artillery of the attack had silenced the guns of
the fortress. A second sortie followed on the 3rd September, which was
not repulsed before it had reached the second parallel.
A short truce was granted at the request of the commandant, to allow of
the burial of the dead lying in front of the works. And on this day a
grand salvo announced to the besieged the victory of Sedan.
Incessant rain had filled the trenches of the second parallel, 2400
paces in length, ankle-deep with water, and it was not till the 9th that
they were completely repaired. Five batteries were moved forward from
the first parallel, as special batteries were required to crush the fire
of lunette No. 44, which took in flank all the approaches. These soon
silenced its guns, and the lunette was abandoned by the garrison.
There were now 96 rifled cannon pieces and 38 mortars in full fire at
very short range. Each gun was authorized to fire twenty rounds a day
and ten shrapnel each night. The large Finkmatt Barracks were destroyed
by fire, and the Stone Gate was so much injured that it had to be
buttressed with sandbags. The garrison withdrew the guns behind the
parapet, and only fired their mortars. However, in order to push forward
the siege-works, sap-rollers had to be brought into use.
When it was discovered that mining galleries were being driven in front
of lunette No. 53, Captain Ledebour let himself down by a rope into the
ditches, and with the help of his pioneers removed the charges of
powder.
During the night of the 13th--14th, the crest of the glacis in front of
both the lunettes Nos. 52 and 53 was reached. The crowning was then
begun by means of the double traverse sap, and was finished in four
days.
The attack henceforth was exclusively directed against bastion No. 11.
To run off the water from the ditches of the fortress it was necessary
to destroy the sluices by the Jews' Gate. These were invisible from any
part of the field of attack, and the desired result could only be very
incompletely obtained by artillery fire at a distance of more than a
mile. Detachments of the 34th Fusilier Regiment, therefore, on the 15th,
marched on the sluices under a heavy rifle fire from the besieged, and
destroyed the dam.
The island of Sporen was at this time taken possession of by the Baden
corps.
When the mortar-batteries had for the most part been moved up into the
second parallel, the gun-batteries were also advanced nearer, and the
wall-piece detachments did such execution by their accurate practice
that the defenders never more dared to show themselves by day.
The retaining wall of lunette No. 53 could only be reached by indirect
fire; but 1000 shells made a breach, and on the 19th September two mines
were fired, which blew up the counterscarp and brought it down to the
level of the water of the ditch. The pioneers immediately set about
laying a dam of fascines across the ditch. A party sent over in a boat
found the work abandoned. The gorge was closed under heavy rifle fire
from the ramparts of the main fortress, and the parapet reversed so as
to face the place.
The next lunette to the left, No. 52, was merely an earthwork, and the
attack had already been pushed forward as far as the edge of the ditch,
but earth screens had first to be thrown up and covered in with railway
iron, as a protection against the heavy fire of shell from bastion No.
12. The construction of a dam of fascines or earth, more than sixty
paces across, and with the ditch full of water almost fathom deep, would
have taken a long time; so it was decided to make a cask bridge of
beer-barrels, of which a quantity had been found in Schiltigheim. This
work was begun at dusk on the 21st, under no better protection than a
screen of boards to prevent observation, and it was finished by ten
o'clock. Here again the defenders had not waited for the escalade, and
this lunette, too, was immediately prepared for being held. Both
lunettes were now furnished with batteries of mortars and guns to
silence the fire from the ravelines and counter-guards of the front of
attack, against which five dismounted and counter-batteries were also
directed.
During the night of the 22nd--23rd the Germans advanced from lunette No.
52, partly by flying sap and partly by the deep sap, and there followed
the crowning of the glacis in the front of counter-guard No. 51. A
breaching fire was immediately opened against the east face of bastion
No. 11, and the west face of bastion No. 12. The splinters of stone
compelled the defenders to abandon the counter-guards. The scarp of
bastion No. 11 fell on the 24th, after a shell-fire of 600 rounds. The
bringing down of the earthwork angle which remained standing, was
postponed till the beginning of the assault.
It was more difficult to breach bastion No. 12, because of the limited
opportunity for observing the effect of the fire. It was not till the
26th that a breach thirty-six feet wide was made, after firing 467 long
shells. And even then, for the actual assault to succeed, the deep wet
ditch at the foot of the bastion had to be crossed.
News of the fall of the Empire had indeed reached Strasburg, but General
Uhrich would not listen to the prayers of the citizens that he would put
an end to their sufferings. The Republic was proclaimed.
The siege had lasted thirty days, but the place was still well supplied
with food and stores; the garrison was not materially weakened by the
loss of 2500 men, but its heterogeneous elements prevented its
effective employment in large bodies outside the walls. From the first
the small blockading force had been allowed to approach close to the
works; and the moment when the artillery of a fortress always has the
advantage over the attack had been little utilized.
The German artillery had proved much the stronger, both as regards
material and in its advantageous employment. Under its powerful
protection the work of the pioneers and infantry was carried on with
equal courage and caution, never swerving from the object in view. The
storming of the main walls was now to be imminently expected, and no
relief from outside could be hoped for.
On the afternoon of September 27th, the white flag was seen flying from
the Cathedral tower; firing ceased and the sapper-works were stopped.
In Koenigshofen at two in the following morning the capitulation was
settled, on the Sedan conditions. Five hundred officers and 17,000 men
were made prisoners, but the former were free to go on their parole. The
National Guards and franctireurs were dismissed to their homes, after
laying down their arms and pledging themselves to fight no more. All the
cash remaining in the state bank, 1200 guns, 200,000 small arms and
considerable stores proved a valuable prize of war.
At eight o'clock in the morning of the 28th, companies of Prussian and
Baden troops took over the National, Fischer, and Austerlitz gates. The
French garrison marched out at the National Gate, General Uhrich at
their head. At first the march was conducted in good order, but before
long numbers of drunken men broke the ranks and refused to obey, or
threw down their arms. The prisoners were taken in the first instance to
Rastatt, under the escort of two battalions and two squadrons.
The old city of the German Reich, which had been seized by France in
time of peace nearly two centuries earlier, was now restored by German
valour to the German fatherland.
The siege had cost the Germans 39 officers and 894 men. The city
unhappily could not have been spared great suffering. Four hundred and
fifty houses were utterly destroyed, 10,000 inhabitants were roofless,
nearly 2000 were killed or wounded. The museum and picture gallery, the
town hall and theatre, the new church, the gymnasium, the Commandant's
residence, and alas! the public library of 200,000 volumes had fallen a
prey to the flames.
The noble Cathedral showed many marks of shot, and the citadel was a
heap of ruins. Under the wreck of the assailed works in the western
front lay buried burst cannon.
The fall of Toul and of Strasburg produced a not unimportant change in
the military situation. Considerable forces were now free for other
services, and the railway transport could be brought up nearer to the
armies. The material no longer required at Strasburg could not indeed be
at once employed for the artillery offensive against Paris; it needed
considerable re-equipment, and was to do duty meanwhile in the reduction
of several smaller places. The newly-opened railway line was made use of
to bring up the Guard Landwehr Division to the army investing Paris. A
new Army Corps, the XIVth, was created of the Baden Division, a combined
brigade consisting of the 30th and 34th Prussian regiments, and one
cavalry brigade; which, under the command of General von Werder, marched
on the Upper Seine. The 1st Reserve Division remained behind as the
garrison of Strasburg.
OPERATIONS ROUND PARIS TO 15TH OCTOBER.
The Government in the now closely-blockaded capital, could not make its
behests heard and obeyed throughout France. It therefore decided on
sending a delegation of two of its members out into the provinces, their
seat of direction to be at Tours. They could quit Paris only in a
balloon. One of these delegates was Gambetta, whose restless energy soon
made itself conspicuously felt, and lasted during the continuance of the
war. Monsieur Thiers, meanwhile, had been visiting the European courts
on the errand of inducing them to interpose their good offices in favour
of France.
After the mishap of September 19th the feeling in Paris was against any
great offensive demonstrations for the present; but the troops of the
line still remained outside the walls under protection of the outlying
forts. The Divisions of the XIIIth Corps were encamped on the south
front and on the plateau of Vincennes; the XIVth was at Boulogne,
Neuilly and Clichy behind the loops of the Seine, with Mont Valerien in
its front, which was held by two line-battalions, after the flight, on
the 20th, of the Gardes-Mobiles from that impregnable stronghold, in
great disorder back into Paris. The defence of the northern front of the
city remained entrusted to the Gardes-Mobiles.
On the German side the positions of the Army of the Meuse, which were to
be occupied and defended to the uttermost, extended from Chatou along
the Seine to the heights of Montmorency, and onward along the Moree and
the skirts of the forest of Bondy as far as the Marne. In close touch
with the flank of the Army of the Meuse at the Marne, the lines of the
Wuertemberg Division carried on the investment from Noisy le Grand across
the Joinville peninsula to Ormesson. The XIth Corps arriving from Sedan
on the 23rd filled up the interval from Ormesson to Villeneuve St.
Georges, and the 1st Bavarian Corps occupied Longjumeau as a protection
against attempts from the direction of Orleans. The VIth Corps could now
be entirely transferred to the left bank of the Seine, where the line of
defence extended along the wooded heights south of Paris to Bougival.
The Head-quarter of the King and that of the IIIrd Army were at
Versailles, that of the Army of the Meuse was transferred to
Vert-Galant. Numerous bridges facilitated the inter-communication of the
various portions of the forces, telegraphs and signal-lights insured
their rapid concentration, and every movement of the French was watched
from eligible posts of observation.
There was no lack of accommodation for the troops, for every village was
deserted; but this made the difficulty of obtaining supplies all the
greater. The fugitive inhabitants had driven off their cattle and
destroyed their stores; there remained only the apparently inexhaustible
wine-cellars. For the first few days all the food needed had to be drawn
from the Commissariat trains, but ere long the cavalry succeeded in
obtaining considerable supplies. High prices and good discipline secured
a market. Only the troops in advanced positions had to bivouac or build
huts, many within range of the hostile artillery, some even within
rifle-shot of the enemy. Near St. Cloud, for instance, no one could show
himself without becoming a mark for the chassepots from behind the
shutters of the houses opposite. The outposts here could only be
relieved at night, and sometimes had to remain on duty two or three days
at a time. The advanced positions of the Bavarians at Moulin la Tour
were also much exposed, and the visits of superior officers to them
always drew a sharp cannonade. Le Bourget, standing as it did in advance
of the line of inundation, was especially liable to a surprise. That
village had been seized on 20th (Sept.) by a battalion of the Guard
Corps, at whose approach 400 Gardes-Mobiles had fled, leaving their
baggage. Only one company occupied this post, on account of the heavy
fire of the adjacent forts.
Some petty sorties from St. Denis met with no success; but an attempt by
detachments of the VIth Corps to occupy the village of Villejuif and the
redoubt of Hautes Bruyeres proved unsuccessful. They forced their way in
several times, but always had to retire under the fire of the
neighbouring forts of Bicetre and Ivry, and because of the superior
strength of Maud'huy's Division. The French afterwards armed the
redoubts with heavy guns.
_September 30th._--Early on this day a cannonade of an hour and a half's
duration from the southern forts and batteries announced a sortie in
that direction. By six o'clock two brigades of the XIIIth French Corps
deployed against Thiais and Choisy le Roi. Strong swarms of tirailleurs
drove in the outposts of the VIth Corps, and forced the field-guns in
position between those two villages to retire; but then the fire of the
infantry garrisons checked any further attack on the part of the French.
Further to the west a third brigade got into Chevilly and seized a
factory on the road to Belle Epine; but its determined attack failed to
obtain possession of the whole village. The 11th Division was alarmed in
its rearward quarters, and hurried forward to the support of the 12th.
The factory was recovered from the French, and the Prussian batteries
now opened fire, and worked such havoc among the enemy as he retired on
Saussaye, that, shunning the attack of the infantry, he fled in great
disorder to Hautes Bruyeres and Villejuif. A brigade which had forced
its way into L'Hay was in the same way driven back, leaving 120
prisoners for the most part unwounded. In the farmstead at the north
entrance of Chevilly, however, the French still held their ground with
great obstinacy. Not till they were completely surrounded, and had made
an ineffectual attempt to force a passage, did surrender those brave
defenders, who numbered about 100.
The whole series of attacks was entirely defeated by about nine o'clock,
and General Vinoy vainly endeavoured to incite the diminished battalions
at Hautes Bruyeres to renew the struggle.
These few morning hours had cost the VIth Corps 28 officers and 413 men;
and the French many more.
Two simultaneous feint-attacks on Sevres and on Mesly on the right bank
of the Seine, came to nothing. The German outposts, at first driven in,
re-occupied their ground by about nine o'clock.
After thus failing to gain space towards the southward by this sortie,
the besieged proceeded to assure themselves of the ground already in
their possession by the construction of entrenchments. They fortified
Villejuif and extended their lines from Hautes Bruyeres past Arcueil to
the Mill of Pichon, so that there the Bavarian outposts had to be drawn
in nearer to Bourg-la-Reine.
Otherwise, throughout the first half of the month of October the
garrison of Paris restricted itself for the most part to daily
cannonades. Guns of the heaviest calibre were directed on the most petty
objects. It was sheer waste of ammunition, just as though the aim was to
get rid of the stores on hand. If one of the gigantic long shells
happened to fall on an outpost, the destruction was of course terrible;
but on the whole they did little execution.
Apart from the noise of the cannonade to which one soon became
accustomed, in Versailles, whence none of the residents had fled, it
might have been thought a time of profound peace. The admirable
discipline of the German troops allowed the townsfolk to pursue their
business undisturbed; the hosts were well paid for the billeting imposed
on them, and the country people could cultivate their fields and gardens
in peace. At St. Cloud every room was kept in the same order as when
the Imperial family had left it, till the shells from Mont Valerien
reduced that delightful palace with all its treasures of art to a heap
of charred ruins. It was the French fire, too, which wrecked the Chateau
of Meudon, the porcelain factory of Sevres, and whole villages in the
nearer environs. And it was also the French themselves who, without any
necessity, felled half the Bois de Boulogne.
The investment line was considerably strengthened on the 10th and 16th
of October, when the 17th Division arriving from Toul relieved the 21st
at Bonneuil, and the latter took up a position between the Bavarians and
the Vth Corps, in the Meudon--Sevres tract; and when the Guard Landwehr
Division came up and occupied St. Germain.
These movements were observed from Paris, and to clear up the situation,
General Vinoy advanced at nine o'clock on 13th October with about 26,000
men and 80 guns, against the position held by the IInd Bavarian Corps.
Four battalions of Gardes-Mobiles, protected by the fire of the nearest
forts and of field batteries, advanced to the attack of Bagneux, and
forced their way over the entrenchments wrecked by artillery fire, into
the heart of the place, whence the defenders retired to Fontenay, when
at eleven o'clock the French 10th Regiment of the line had also come up.
Reinforced by a fresh battalion, and supported by an effective flanking
fire from Chatillon, the Bavarians now made so firm a stand that the
enemy could make no further progress, but began to put Bagneux in a
state of defence. Meanwhile the 4th Bavarian Division had stood to arms,
and by about 1.30 General von Bothmer (its commander) moved it up from
Sceaux and from Fontenay, and proceeded to surround Bagneux. The
barricades erected by the enemy were carried, who however still offered
an obstinate resistance in the northern part of the village.
A French battalion had also made its way into Chatillon, but the
Bavarian battalion in occupation there held its own until assistance
came, and the enemy was driven out of the place after a sharp conflict.
A third brigade seized Clamart, which at that time was not yet included
in the German intrenched lines; but it failed to climb the ascent to
Moulin de la Tour, although the defenders on the plateau above were
exposed to the fire of the forts.
General Vinoy had convinced himself that forces which were a match for
him confronted him at every point, and at three o'clock he decided to
break off the fight. The French bodies of troops gradually disappeared
behind the forts, and had all vanished by dusk. The Bavarians returned
to their former fore-post positions, and the garrison of Bagneux was
increased to two battalions.
All France had meanwhile been arming with eager haste. Armies of
considerable strength were being massed at Rouen and Evreux, at
Besancon, and especially behind the Loire, of very various composition
no doubt, and above all lacking in professional officers to drill and
discipline them. Great battles were therefore in the first instance to
be avoided; the enemy was to be constantly harassed by small
engagements. Thus, towards the end of September, General Delarue
advanced from Evreux with his "Eclaireurs de la Seine" up to the
vicinity of St. Germain. But the 5th Cavalry Division, supported by two
Bavarian battalions, drove these bands back to Dreux behind the Eure.
The woods in front of the 6th Cavalry Division were also full of hostile
parties, who were, however, swept out without much difficulty beyond
Rambouillet to Epernon.
Matters looked more serious to the south of Paris, in front of the 4th
Cavalry Division, which was in observation towards the Loire.
The newly-formed French XVth Corps had assembled at Orleans in three
Divisions with a strength of 60,000 men, and it occupied the whole
forest-belt on the right bank of the river. To counteract the danger
threatening the investment from that direction, the 1st Bavarian Corps
and the 22nd Division of the XIth had been put in march on Arpajon and
Montclery as soon as they were freed from duty at Sedan; and on the 6th
of October they were placed, with the 2nd Cavalry Division, under the
command of General von der Tann.
ACTION OF ARTENAY.
(October 10th.)
When General von der Tann received instructions to take the offensive
against Orleans, he marched on the 9th of October to the vicinity of St.
Peravy without meeting any serious opposition, and on the 10th advanced
on Artenay. The 4th Cavalry Division covered the right flank; the 2nd
remained near Pithiviers, where the enemy had collected in great force.
General La Motterouge on the same day also moved out on Artenay with the
XVth French Corps, having the wood in his rear occupied by
Gardes-Mobiles; and so the advanced guards of both sides met at a short
distance to the north of the common objective.
While the Bavarian light horse on the right were driving the French
cavalry before them, the infantry deployed across the road near to
Dambron. The 22nd Division marched forward on Dambron with both Cavalry
Divisions on its flanks. Under the fire of the Bavarian batteries, the
French had gone about to Artenay, where the Germans were ready to
receive them. Attacked in front and threatened by bodies of horse, at
about two o'clock, leaving their tents standing, they began a retreat
which soon degenerated into flight. The cavalry seized four field-guns
and took above 250 prisoners. Six hundred more, who had reached Croix
Briquet, surrendered there to the Bavarian infantry on the arrival of
the latter.
The German troops had made a long march; General von der Tann therefore
allowed them rest for the day in and around Artenay, and only the
advanced guard went on to Chevilly, to pursue the march to Orleans next
day.
ENGAGEMENT AT ORLEANS.
(October 11th.)
On this day, the 22nd Division, for the time only 6000 strong, moved to
the right flank of the advance, and drove the French out of several
villages partly prepared for defence; it was not till about ten o'clock
that it met with serious opposition from an intrenched position at
Ormes.
The French Commander after the disaster at Artenay had decided on a
retreat behind the Loire, to cover which he had halted about 15,000 men
on the right bank of the river, in a position which possessed many
essentials towards a good defence.
General von Wittich (commanding 22nd Division) first sent the 44th
Brigade against this position at Ormes, and opened fire from seven
batteries. The troops of his left wing, supported by the Bavarian right,
made their way but slowly over the plain east of the enemy's position,
and various enclosures and buildings had to be stormed and taken as
they advanced. This threatening attitude of the German right, however,
shook the firmness of the defence, and, after some hours' hard fighting,
the French began to retreat. No sooner was this observed by the Germans
than two batteries were brought up to within 800 paces, and the 83rd
Regiment stormed the entrenchments at two in the afternoon, but with
heavy loss. Detachments of the 43rd Brigade had meanwhile reached the
road in rear of Ormes, and took 800 prisoners. But the villages, gardens
and vineyards which line the road to Orleans for more than four miles on
either side, were serious obstacles to the advance of the Germans in
close formation, and the Division did not arrive at Petit St. Jean till
three o'clock, of which the nearest buildings were forcibly taken
possession of.
The Bavarian Corps, which had also met with a stout resistance at Saran,
pushed forward to Bel Air, but with great loss, especially in the
artillery. Here the nature of the ground did not allow of the deployment
of the guns, a further attack came to a standstill, and at half-past
four the French were still stoutly holding their own at Les Aides, till
the advance of the 4th Bavarian Brigade to Murlins threatened their line
of retreat. They made a renewed stand behind the railway embankment,
1000 paces in front of the town, and the railway-station and gas-works
had also to be taken by assault.
It was already five o'clock when General von der Tann led his reserve,
the 1st Bavarian Brigade, to the decisive assault of Grand Ormes. The
32nd Prussian Regiment crossed the embankment on the left flank of the
French, who now retired into the suburb of St. Jean. The 1st Bavarian
Regiment, hurrying in their rear, was received with a hot fire at the
gate of the city; but with its officers marching at its head it reached
the market-place about seven o'clock.
The French hurried across the bridge over the Loire, while the 43rd
Prussian and 1st Bavarian Brigades seized the principal buildings and
the passages across the river; but as darkness fell they desisted from
further advance and bivouacked on the open places of the city.
The day had cost the Germans a loss of 900 men, the 3rd Bavarian Brigade
having suffered most severely. But their hard-won victory promptly
dispelled the disquietude of the investing armies caused by the
threatening attitude of the French; and 5000 rifles, ten locomotives and
sixty railway-carriages were welcome prizes.
The French rear-guard had lost in detached combats and retreats alone
1800 prisoners; but it had covered the retreat of the main body of the
Army of the South for a whole day against superior forces, with
praiseworthy determination. In the open field, where skilful handling of
masses is possible, it would soon have been defeated; but in
street-fighting unflinching personal courage is all that is needed in
the defender, and the latest recruits of the newly created French levies
did not lack that attribute.
On the following day the 1st Bavarian Division took possession of the
suburb of St. Marceau, on the further side of the Loire, and advanced to
the Loiret. The 2nd Cavalry Division scouted through the Sologne, the
4th on the right bank ranged to the westward.
The French XVth Corps had continued its retreat to Salbris and
Pierrefitte, behind the Sauldre.
It was certainly to be wished that its pursuit could have been followed
up to Vierzon and Tours, so that the vast arsenals at the first-named
town might have been destroyed, and the Government Delegation driven
away from the other. But it must not be forgotten that though the French
forces had been discomfited at Artenay, favoured by the nature of the
locality they had escaped utter defeat by retreat. General von der Tann
was disproportionately weak in the infantry arm, and hostile masses
were disclosing themselves on all sides. A new French Army Corps, the
XVIth, appeared at Blois, below Orleans, and at Gien, above that city;
the German cavalry met with resistance in the forest of Marchenoir and
before Chateaudun; and everywhere the inhabitants and volunteers
appeared so full of confidence that the proximity of reinforcements was
to be presumed.
So it behoved the Germans to restrict themselves to the occupation of
Orleans and the line of the Loire; and for this purpose the Bavarian
Corps, with the 2nd Cavalry Division, seemed a sufficient force. The
22nd Infantry and 4th Cavalry Divisions were recalled to the IIIrd Army;
on their return march they were charged to disperse the volunteers who
had made their appearance at Chateaudun and Chartres.
General von der Tann had the bridges over the Loiret and the Loire
prepared for destruction, an Etappen-line was established to Longjumeau,
and the Bavarian Railway Detachment set to work to restore the line to
Villeneuve.
REDUCTION OF SOISSONS.
(October 15th.)
Soissons still hindered the further utilization of the railway, which
had been re-opened at the time of the fall of Toul as far as Rheims.
This fortress had been bombarded by field artillery without success when
the Army of the Meuse passed by it on the march to Paris, and since then
it had only been kept under observation until on October 6th eight
Landwehr battalions, four squadrons, two batteries, two companies of
pioneers, and four of fortress artillery made good the investment.
Soissons, with its walls about 26 feet high, had complete immunity from
escalade, and the damming of the Crise brook made it unassailable on the
south. The south-west front, on the other hand, had only a dry ditch,
with no counterscarp of masonry; here, too, the town was commanded by
Mont Marion, rising to a height of 300 feet at a distance of little more
than a mile. Against this face of the fortress, therefore, the artillery
attack was directed at short range, when on the 11th October there
arrived from Toul 26 Prussian siege-guns with 170 rounds for each, and
10 French mortars. The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg took over the command.
In a clear moonlight night the artillery with the help of the infantry
was brought up on to the heights of Ste. Genevieve; the construction of
the batteries about Belleu and in Mont Marion was completed and the
arming of them effected. At six in the morning of 12th October they
opened fire simultaneously.
The besieged answered with great spirit but with small results, and the
accurate fire of the Prussian artillery soon subdued that of the enemy
in the particular front.
A narrow breach was visible by next day, and the fire from the fortress
was evidently much enfeebled; but the commandant decidedly rejected the
demand that he should capitulate. On the 14th he increased the number of
guns on his south front, so that the batteries on Ste. Genevieve had an
arduous struggle. The French also laboured hard along the front of the
attack to restore the severely damaged works, brought more guns up to
the ramparts, and closed the breach by retrenchment.
But on the 15th these repairs were soon demolished again by the
artillery of the attack, and a breach was made 40 paces wide and amply
spread with earth. As the fortress still kept up a brisk fire, it was
determined to bring up the field-batteries within 900 paces. But at
eight in the evening, when this operation was just begun, the commandant
opened negotiations and surrendered the place on the Sedan terms. The
garrison marched out next morning, for the most part drunk. A thousand
Gardes-Mobiles were dismissed on parole, 3800 regulars were made
prisoners.
The attack had cost 120 men; 128 guns and 8000 small arms became prize
of war, besides vast stores of provisions.
STORMING OF CHATEAUDUN.
(October 18th.)
In obedience to instructions, General von Wittich marched on Chateaudun
with the 22nd Division on the afternoon of the 18th. The French troops
of the line had already been ordered to retire on Blois, but about 1800
National Guards and volunteers still remained, prepared under cover of
barricades and walls to receive the enemy. The infantry attack was also
made more difficult by the nature of the ground, and four batteries had
to keep up a hot fire for a long time.
It was not till dusk that a general assault was had recourse to. Inside
the town the enemy made a desperate resistance. House after house had to
be won, the fighting lasted until late into the night, and a large part
of the place was set on fire. The volunteers finally escaped, leaving
150 prisoners and abandoning the inhabitants to their fate; and these,
though they had taken part in the struggle, were let off with a fine.
At noon on the 21st the Division arrived in front of Chartres, where
10,000 French were said to have assembled. The marine infantry and
Gardes-Mobiles advanced to the attack, but were repulsed by the fire of
seven batteries. The General commanding the Division had deployed both
his brigades southward of the city, and with the assistance of his
cavalry, which had been joined by the 6th (Cavalry) Division, completely
surrounded it. The fate of Chateaudun had been a warning to the
municipal authorities, and at three o'clock an agreement was come to by
which the troops were to be withdrawn, the National Guards to lay down
their arms, and the gates to be thrown open.
General Wittich's orders were to remain at Chartres for the present,
while the 6th Cavalry Division was to occupy Maintenon, and so cover the
investing army to the west.
Not less fervid was the rush to arms in the north, in Picardy and
Normandy. The Saxon Cavalry Division, supported by detachments of the
Army of the Meuse, had in the early part of October driven the
franctireurs and Gardes-Mobiles beyond the Oise and the Epte on Amiens,
taking some hundreds of prisoners. But fresh swarms were constantly
coming on, and had to be attacked at Breteuil, Montdidier, and
Etrepagny, so that no less than eleven battalions, twenty-four
squadrons, and four batteries, were by degrees employed in this
direction for the protection of the besieging force. But by the end of
the month the French forces were so systematically organized and in so
great strength, that for the time the Germans had to confine themselves
to holding on the defensive the line of the Epte.
To the south-east also, in the forest-land of Fontainebleau, hostilities
were prosecuted by the volunteers, particularly against
requisition-parties of cavalry; and from Nangis obstruction was
threatened to the transport of the siege-guns. A small force of
Wuertemberg troops seized Montereau, which, though barricaded, was not
defended; the inhabitants gave up their arms, and the detachment marched
on Nogent. This town was held by a large body of Gardes-Mobiles. After
breaching the walls of the churchyard, the Wuertembergers, in the face
of a hot fire, made their way into the place. The French still offered a
stout resistance in its interior, but finally retired on Troyes, leaving
600 dead and wounded. The small flying column rejoined its Division,
having traversed over 126 miles in six days.
SORTIE AGAINST MALMAISON.
(October 21st.)
The French capital had now been invested for more than four weeks, and
it seemed not impossible, because of the long continuance of inactivity,
that it might be brought to surrender by famine. All the sorties
hitherto attempted had only had for their object to drive the enemy from
the closest vicinity; a new effort was to aim at greater results. The
project was to cross the Seine below Paris at Bezons and Carrieres, and
to make a simultaneous attack on the positions of the IVth Prussian
Corps on the heights of Argenteuil from the south, and from St.-Denis
from the east. A march on Rouen by Pontoise was to follow, into a
district not yet altogether exhausted of resources. The Army of the
Loire was also to proceed thither by railway by way of Le Mans, and so
there would be massed in that region an army of 250,000 men.
The Prussian Vth Corps, it was true, stood right on the flank of such an
advance across the Seine; its outposts had several times been seen in
Rueil. As a preliminary step, General Ducrot undertook to force back
this body with 10,000 men and 120 field-guns. Then an intrenched line
from Valerien to Carrieres would close the peninsula against
interference from the southward.
Perhaps, in the face of much-dreaded "public opinion" and the growing
restlessness of political parties in Paris, it was more the urgency to
be doing something than any serious hope of success which gave rise to
such far-reaching schemes. Considerable difficulties had to be met in
attacking the enemy's lines, and greater must inevitably arise if the
attack should succeed. It was vain to think of bringing through the
miles-long trains which are indispensable for victualling an army.
Serious embarrassment would ensue when the troops had consumed the three
days' rations they would carry with them. To live on the country the
army must disperse itself; but with the enemy at its heels close
concentration was indispensable. And, in any case, it is hard to see
what would have been gained by withdrawing from Paris the forces which
had been assembled for the defence of the capital. Success could only
have been hoped for if an army from without had been so near as to be
able immediately to give the hand to the troops marching out.
However, on the 21st of October, after Mont Valerien had all the morning
kept up a seemingly ineffective fire, General Ducrot advanced at about
one o'clock to attack the position of the Prussian 19th Brigade whose
supports held the line Bougival--Jonchere--Fohlenkoppel. Fourteen French
field-batteries deployed on either side of Rueil and about the southern
base of Valerien; the infantry advanced in five columns behind this
artillery front.
On the German side only two batteries could at first engage in the
unequal duel, and one of these near the Villa Metternich had very soon
to retire. The French guns advanced rightward to within 1400 paces of
Bougival, and at three o'clock four companies of Zouaves rushed out of
Rueil. Being received with a hot fire, they wheeled into the park of
Malmaison, and without opposition seized the Chateau of Buzanval and the
eastern slope of the deep-cut ravine of Cucufa. And here one of their
batteries was brought up into the fighting-line to support them.
While the main body of the 9th Division advanced from Versailles on
Vaucresson, the 10th deployed against the ravine and at Villa
Metternich. The infantry fire lasted for a full hour, and wrought the
French much loss. When at about four o'clock they seemed sufficiently
shaken, and a reinforcement of the Guard Landwehr had come up from St.
Germain on the left, the German left wing advanced from Bougival and
over the height of Jonchere, forced its way into Malmaison in spite of
violent opposition, and followed the retreating Zouaves as far as Rueil.
The right wing at the same time having turned the head of the Cucufa
ravine, charged against its eastern slope, drove out the enemy, seized
the battery of two guns, and occupied the Chateau of Buzanval.
The French now retired on all sides, firing ceased by six o'clock, and
the 10th Division, which had repulsed the enemy's assaults
single-handed, re-established its previous fore-post line.
The struggle had cost the Germans 400 men. The French, on the other
hand, had in this luckless enterprise left 500 dead and wounded, and 120
prisoners.
Soon after this affair the French began to throw up entrenchments within
800 paces of the line of the Guard Corps; and in the early morning of
the 28th, General Bellemare, under cover of the darkness, advanced on Le
Bourget with a force of several battalions.
The German company in occupation there, taken completely by surprise,
could only retire before such overwhelming numbers, to Pont Iblon and
Blanc Mesnil. The French promptly barricaded themselves in the place and
prepared it for an obstinate defence. A German battalion made a vain
attempt that evening to drive them out; it was repulsed with heavy loss.
Equally unsuccessful next day was the fire of thirty field-guns
directed against the place from Pont Iblon. Then, however, the Crown
Prince of Saxony issued imperative orders to the Guard Corps to
recapture Le Bourget without delay.
STORMING OF LE BOURGET.
(October 30th.)
Accordingly on October 30th, nine battalions of the 2nd Guard-Division
and five batteries, under the command of Lieutenant-General von
Budritzki,[33] were assembled at Dugny, Pont Iblon and Blanc Mesnil for
a concentric attack on Le Bourget. The artillery in action along the
bank of the Moree inundation opened the attack at about eight in the
morning, and then the infantry went forward. The terrain was perfectly
open, and the advance was under fire, not merely from Le Bourget, but
also from the heavy guns of the forts. Nevertheless the Grenadier
Battalion of the Queen Elizabeth Regiment, at the head of the central
column, at nine o'clock made a successful assault, charging over the
barricade at the northern end of the village, and entering it through a
breach in the wall promptly made by the pioneers. The Emperor Francis
Grenadier Regiment advanced against its western face and took possession
of the park. A fierce street-fight ensued on a further advance into the
village, in the course of which there fell the commanders of both
regiments, Colonels von Zaluskowski and Count Waldersee. The walled
farmsteads left of the main street, were stormed one after another in
spite of a determined defence; the windows of the church, high up in the
walls as they were, were broken in and scaled, and a hand-to-hand fight
raged furiously inside the sacred building. The Guard Rifle-Battalion
forced its way into the glass-works.
At half-past nine the French attempted to bring up into Le Bourget
reinforcements from Aubervillers and Drancy; but the left German column
had meanwhile seized the railway-embankment, placed a detachment of the
Emperor Alexander Regiment to hold it, and was forcing its way into the
southern quarter of the village. Two batteries had taken up position on
the Mollette brook, and their fire drove back the enemy and even
compelled him to evacuate Drancy.
At ten o'clock the French still held the buildings on the north side of
the Mollette. These were now assailed from the south. The 4th Company of
the Emperor Alexander Regiment crossed the stream and forced its way
through a breach made by the sappers into the farmstead in which the
enemy's main force was gathered. The defenders had to be quelled with
the bayonet and with clubbed arms, and here the French Colonel de
Baroche met his death.
Although by this time--eleven o'clock--all the three attacking columns
had struck hands in the heart of Le Bourget, the enemy continued the
struggle in detached houses and gardens with embittered desperation till
the afternoon, while all the forts on the north front of Paris
overwhelmed the place with shell-fire. It was not till half-past one
that the troops of the attack could withdraw by companies to their
respective quarters. Two battalions remained to garrison Le Bourget.
The desperate resistance of the French showed how important they
considered their retention of this post. Its success had cost the 2nd
(Guard) Division 500 men. The enemy's loss is not known, but 1200
prisoners were taken. This new disaster added to the dissatisfaction of
the inhabitants of Paris. The revolutionary factions, which at all times
lurk in the French capital, came ominously to the front.
Highly-coloured reports could no longer conceal utter lack of results;
the authority of the Government was steadily on the wane. It was accused
of incapacity, nay, of treason. Noisy mobs clamoured for arms, and even
a part of the National Guard took part in the tumult. The Hotel de Ville
was surrounded by a throng shouting "Vive la Commune!" and though other
troops dispersed these gatherings, the ringleaders, though well known,
went unpunished.
On the 31st of October uproarious masses again paraded the streets. As
General Trochu had forbidden the sentries at the Hotel de Ville to use
their arms, the rebels forced their way in. The Ministers were their
prisoners till the evening, when some battalions which remained staunch
liberated them.
Monsieur Thiers, who had returned from his fruitless tour among the
European Courts, thought the time had come for re-opening negotiations
with Versailles. On the part of the Germans there was still the
readiness to grant an armistice, but it was naturally impossible to
accede to the condition demanded by the French, that the city should be
re-provisioned, and so hostilities had to take their course.
At this time, towards the end of October, the situation on the Moselle
had assumed an aspect which essentially modified that of the whole war.
* * * * *[34]
By the exchange of German prisoners for French who had fought at Sedan,
details of the disaster which had befallen France in that battle were
currently known in Metz. But Marshal Bazaine declared that the Army of
the Rhine would continue to defend the country against the invaders, and
maintain public order against the evil passions of disloyal men--a
resolution which certainly could be interpreted in more ways than one.
It would have been eminently satisfactory to the Germans, politically
speaking, if there had been in France an available power, apart from
the pretentious but feeble Government in Paris, with which to come to an
understanding as regarded the termination of the war. Permission was
therefore given for the admission to Metz of a person representing
himself to have a commission from the exiled Imperial family. As he was
unable to authenticate himself in this capacity to the satisfaction of
Marshal Bazaine, General Bourbaki was allowed to pass through the German
lines that he might betake himself to London, where, however, the
Empress Eugenie declined all intervention in the already so disastrous
affairs of France. The General then placed his services at the disposal
of the National Defence Government at Tours.
Meanwhile the army which had been beleaguered in Metz since the day of
Noisseville maintained a waiting attitude. The necessary supplies for
70,000 inhabitants, including the country-folk who had taken refuge in
the city, had originally been enough to last three months and a half,
those for the regular garrison were calculated for about five months;
but for the Army of the Rhine there was sustenance in store for only
forty-one days, and there was forage for only twenty-five.
Certainly it was possible to supplement the supplies for the troops by
purchase from the abundant stores of the citizens; but ere long smaller
rations of bread were served out and horses were being slaughtered to
furnish animal food, so that most of the cavalry regiments were reduced
to two squadrons.
On the German side, the service of supplying 197,326 men and 33,136
horses was one of great difficulty. The outbreak of cattle-plague in
Germany restricted the importation of live beasts to those purchased in
Holland and Belgium. The meat rations had to be supplemented by tinned
provisions; and increased rations of oats had to take the place of hay
and straw.
The losses of the army had hitherto been made good from the reserves,
but the transport of the prisoners from Sedan alone required the
services of fourteen battalions of the force blockading Metz. Thus it
had not yet been possible to provide sufficient shelter for the troops
near the wide extension of the entrenched line. Raw, rainy weather had
come on early in the season, and a fourth part of the men were still
roofless; so that by degrees the sick in hospital reached the alarming
number of 40,000.
Although fifty heavy guns had been brought up from Germany, they were
useless for the bombardment of Metz, since in consequence of the
superior calibre of the fortress artillery they could only be fired at
night, and with frequent change of position. There was nothing for it
but to hope for the best, and have patience.
For four weeks already had the besieged been consuming their stores. To
replenish those in some degree, and at the same time to revive the
spirit of the troops by active measures, the Marshal decided on fetching
in all the provisions to be found in the villages inside the line of the
German investment, under cover of a sortie.
At noon on September 22nd Fort St. Julien opened a heavy fire on the
outposts of the Ist Corps. Strong bodies of infantry then advanced on
the villages to the eastward, drove in the picquets of the enemy, and
returned to Metz with the stores which had been seized. But a similar
attempt made next afternoon on the villages to the north was less
successful. Most of the waggons had to return empty, under the fire of
the Prussian batteries quickly brought up into position. Finally, on the
27th, a sortie for the same purpose was made to the southward, which led
to a series of small conflicts and the capture in Peltre of a German
company, which was surrounded by a much stronger force. A simultaneous
sally on the left bank of the Moselle was baffled by the fire of the
alert artillery of the besieging force.
Thionville, on the north of Metz, had hitherto only been kept under
observation by a small force, which could not hinder the garrison from
scouring the country as far as the neighbouring frontier, taking many
prisoners, seizing fifty waggon-loads of supplies, and even diverting
into the fortress a whole train of provision-trucks while passing by the
now restored railway from Luxemburg.
In point of fact, the Army of the Rhine would have found in Thionville
an important rallying-point at the end of its first day's march, if the
blockade of Metz could have been broken through. Prince Frederick
Charles, realizing this, took care to strengthen the investing lines to
the north, on the right bank of the Moselle. On October 1st the Xth
Corps took up the position hitherto held by the Reserve Division Kummer,
which was transferred to the left bank of the river. The Ist, VIIth, and
VIIIth Corps closed up to the right, and the IInd occupied the space
between the Seille and the Moselle; the troops before Thionville were
also reinforced.
The Marshal had really once more determined to break out to the
northward, and that on both banks of the river. New bridges were
constructed behind St. Julien and from the island of Chambiere, the
nearest German outposts on the north and west of Metz were pushed back
by a series of daily skirmishes. Under cover of the fire of the forts
the French established themselves firmly in Lessy and Ladonchamps. The
troops to be left in Metz were expressly selected; the others tested as
to their marching powers. Light-signals were arranged with Thionville,
and all preparations made for a sortie on the 7th.
Then the French commander suddenly changed his mind, and the proposed
enterprise collapsed into a foraging expedition.
For this, indeed, large forces were set in motion; the Guard Voltigeur
Division, the VIth Corps, and the IVth in the forest of Woippy. The
movement was also to be supported by the IIIrd Corps on the right bank
of the river.
Four hundred waggons were in readiness to carry off the stores from the
large farms lying north of Ladonchamps.
FOOTNOTES:
[33] Commanding 2nd Guard-Division.
[34] In text there is at this point no Section-Headline, although the
subject changes; but the succeeding pages till commencement of new
Section are headed: "Die Lage vor Metz im October." This heading is
followed in translation.
SORTIE FROM METZ AGAINST BELLEVUE.
(October 7th.)
Although the start from Woippy planned for eleven o'clock, was not
effected till one, the Landwehr companies on outpost duty were driven in
by superior numbers, and as they defended their positions till their
ammunition was exhausted, they also lost a considerable number of
prisoners. But the artillery of the Landwehr Division prevented the
removal of the stores; the 5th Division advancing from Norroy struck the
left flank of the French attack and drove the enemy back on Bellevue,
where a stationary fight developed itself.
The French IIIrd Corps advanced on the right bank of the Moselle against
Malroy and Noisseville. Here, too, the outpost line fell back; but
behind it stood the Xth and Ist Corps, ready for action. The respective
Corps commanders at once perceived that this attack was only a feint.
Although threatened himself, General von Voigts-Rhetz sent his 38th
Brigade across the Moselle at Argancy by half-past two to assist the
Landwehr Division, and when General von Manteuffel forwarded him
supports to Charly, the 37th Brigade followed.
No sooner had the first reinforcements arrived than General von Kummer
on his side took the offensive, recaptured the farmsteads from the
enemy after a sharp struggle just as the latter were about to retire,
and then, supported on the right by part of the 5th Division, moved on
Bellevue at about six in the evening. Ladonchamps, however, still
remained in the hands of the French. Late in the evening the 19th and
Reserve Divisions advanced on this place. The premises of the chateau,
which were surrounded by a moat, were carefully intrenched and strongly
defended by infantry and guns. The darkness precluded effective
artillery action, and the attack failed; but all the other points
previously held by the Germans were re-occupied.
The day had cost the Prussians 1700 killed and wounded, besides 500
reported missing. The French loss was given out to be no more than 1193.
This attempt on the part of the French might be regarded as tentative,
and preliminary only to a real effort to break through; perhaps it was
so intended. The German troops therefore remained in the positions they
had occupied at the close of the fighting, in expectation of renewed
hostilities on the morrow.
The forts in fact opened a heavy fire on the farm-buildings early on the
8th, while the German batteries directed their fire on Ladonchamps.
Strong columns also advanced along the right bank of the Moselle, but
nowhere attempted a serious attack. The Prussian troops therefore
presently retired to their quarters.
The artillery duel was carried on for the next few days, but with
diminished energy. Constant rain made all field operations very
difficult, and increased the sufferings of the men on both sides. In
Metz the lack of victuals was becoming very painfully felt. So early as
on the 8th the commandant had announced that his stores would not last
longer than for twelve days. A council of war, held on the 10th, was,
however, of opinion that the greatest service the Army of the Rhine
could do to France was to hold out as long as possible, since it thus
continued to detain a hostile army under the walls of Metz.
The Marshal now sent General Boyer to negotiate at Versailles, but his
instructions were to demand a free exit for the army and explicitly to
refuse the terms of the Sedan capitulation.
The state of affairs in Metz was perfectly well known to the Germans.
The number of men who were taken willing prisoners while digging
potatoes increased every day. They reported that disturbances had broken
out in the city, in which even part of the soldiers had taken part, and
that the commander-in-chief had been compelled to proclaim the Republic.
And since the Empress had declared that she would never give her consent
to any diminution of French territory, no further political negotiations
were possible with the chiefs of the Army of the Rhine.
On the 20th the distribution of stores came to an end within the
fortress, and the troops thenceforth for the most part subsisted on
horseflesh. The original stock of 20,000 horses was reduced by a
thousand a day. The want of bread and salt was severely felt, and the
soaked, deep ground made living in camp almost unendurable.
After the failure of the negotiations at Versailles, the imperative
necessity of entering into negotiations with the Headquarter of the
besieging army was recognized by a council of war held on the 24th.
The first interview had no result, as the Marshal still stipulated for
free egress on condition of withdrawing to Algiers, or the alternative
of an armistice with the reprovisioning of Metz. On the German side the
surrender of the fortress and the march out of the garrison as prisoners
of war were insisted on, and on these conditions the capitulation was
signed on the evening of the 27th of October.
CAPITULATION OF METZ.
(October 27th.)[35]