The Franco-German War of 1870-71Moltke, Helmuth, Graf von
History
The Franco-German War of 1870-71
Moltke, Helmuth, Graf von
Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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