BATTLES AROUND METZ, IN THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR, 1870 Colombey–Borny (August 14).—The French army under Marshal Bazaine was in and about Metz. The German I. and II. Armies, on the march from the Saar, were heading for the Moselle between Metz and Pont-a-Mousson, and on the morning of Aug. 14 the German I. Army (I., VII. and VIII. Corps, under General v. Steinmetz) lay on and east of the French, with outposts well to the front, watching the French camps east of Metz, which were little more than 1 m. to the front. Steinmetz had received from headquarters overnight instructions that on Aug. 14 the I. Army would maintain the positions occupied during the 13th, and merely passed on these orders to his corps commanders. In Metz, mean while, Bazaine had decided to retreat. The II. Corps (Frossard) and VI. (Canrobert) began to retire about midday, the III. (Leboeuf), IV. (Ladmirault) and Imperial Guard (Bourbaki) were to follow. These preparations being observed, the German outposts got under arms. Goltz, in command of the VII. Corps determined at 3 P.M. to advance to the ridge between Colombey and Borny (which was still occupied by French outposts), in order to clear up the situation. The ridge was easily captured, but the sound of the firing at once set all the neighbouring troops in motion, and fortunately so, for the French had immediately retaliated on Goltz. Between 4 and 6 P.M. there was continuous heavy fighting on the front from Borny to Mey, held by Leboeuf's corps, as both sides brought fresh troops into the field, and the troops engaged rapidly slipped from all superior control. Shortly before 6:3o Ladmirault's corps came up, endangering the right flank of the Prussian I. Corps (General v. Manteuffel). Mean while Steinmetz had been sending peremptory orders to the battle field to stop the battle, but neither of the corps commanders was able to enforce them. Fortunately for the Prussians, Bazaine had issued similar orders to his subordinates, who, having their men better in hand, were able to obey; and as night began to close in the French broke off the action and retired under the guns of the Metz forts, convinced that at last they had "broken the spell" of German success. In this action the Germans brought only 30,500 on to the battlefield out of more than ioo,000 which could have been engaged before darkness. Bazaine actually deployed 50,700 to oppose them. He might, however, had he been so minded, have
struck with his whole army—nearly three times this force, and, judging from the course events actually took, we can have little doubt as to the result of such a blow. The losses on either side were in killed and wounded—French 3,600, Germans 4,800.
The Battle of Vionville—Mars-la-Tour (August 16).—On the following day (15th) the German II. Army approached the Moselle above and below Pont-a-Mousson, with a view to over taking and heading off Bazaine in his presumed retreat to the Meuse (see FRANCO-GERMAN WAR). So far, however, from being ahead of the Germans on the road to Verdun, the French were actually, late in the afternoon of Aug. 15, bivouacked on the plateau of Rezonville, and there their outposts were placed, not where they could see the surrounding country, but at the regula tion distances of 600 to i,000 paces from the bivouacs. At day break on the 16th, no Prussians being reported in sight by the out posts, the troops began nonchalantly to prepare for the resumption of the march. On the Prussian side, Alvensleben's Corps (III.) shortly after daybreak was moving north-westward from the Moselle in two columns, on Vionville and Mars-la-Tour, Alvens leben himself riding in advance. The 6th cavalry division was ordered to precede the right column and scout towards Rezonville. No one was aware of the dangerous proximity of the French army.
About 9 A.M. the 5th cavalry division, with two horse artillery batteries (flank guard of the X. Corps from Thiancourt), and ac companied by Caprivi (chief of staff, X. Corps, and afterwards chancellor of the German Empire), were trotting up the western slopes of the ridge which runs between Tronville and Vionville. Reaching its summit they suddenly found themselves in face of at least 40,000 encamped French troops. The temptation proved too great for the artillery, who promptly fired into the midst of the nearest camp. This gave the alarm and Frossard's II. Corps at once stood to arms and advanced, encountering the Prussian 6th cavalry division, which promptly bore away to cover. Meanwhile Alvensleben himself had seen the surprise of the French camps. The sound of the heavy firing coming from the eastward convinced him of what had been gradually dawning on him—that with barely 30,00o men he was in the presence of the whole French army.