The Charleston daily news. (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, August 29, 1870, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

VOTTT?fTt T.-NUMBER 1462. CHARLESTON, MONDAY MORNING' AUGUST 29, 1870. SIX DOLLARS A YEAR. LAST NIGHTS DISPATCHES. MOKE FIGHTING. REPORTED . SUCCESS OF TS R FRESCH. REPULSE OP THE PRUSSIAN ATTACKS ON VERDUN AND EPERNAT. A HAZARDOUS PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. SCEN ES IN THE PRESCH CHAMBERS. M. THEIRS ON THE DEFENCE OF PARIS. ** Latest Reporta from Pari?. PARIS. Angnst 28. McMahon's main army is at Stenay. The Emperor is at Resoaville, and the Prince Im? perial is at Bethel. The Prag ai ans push their re conno is sances as far as Montmedy. La Liberte of to-day says that the General af the Army pf the Rhine arrived at Paris last night, and had an Interview with the Empress, .' and returned Immediately. We may expect a brilliant combat in a day or two* La Liberte adds that a person who saw the Emperor on the 25th, affirms that the armies of Bazaine and McMahon were near each other. The Journal de France learns from a certain source that, before ordering the Prince Royal to march on Paris, the King of Prussia held a council of war composed of the generals and princes commanding, the Prussian forces, and the advice of all was to remain In the territory conquered, and fortify the rignt bans: of the Moselle. The Prince Royal slept the night be? fore last at Chalons. Ia case of the siege ol Parts, the government officers other than the Ministers will go lo Tours, Bourges and Lyons. Up to Thursday morning the Prosslans had captured but ten guns. Two battalions of the. Garde Mobile were annihilated by the Prussian cavalry, seventeen French officers and 850 soldiers were captured, the'Prussians have one major severely and three troopers slightly wounded. The following Intelligence was published on tye 25th at 9 A. M. : "Verdun was attacked hy? the Prussians, ten thousand strong, command? ed by the Crown Prince of Saxony, and after an ardent battle of three hoare, during which three hundred shells were thrown- into the city, the Prosslans having suffered heavily by our artillery, were repulsed. Their loss is considerable. The Garde Mobile served our guns. We have ive killed and twelve wounded." The enemy fired on an ambulance train, which was strack seventeen times and two persons killed. The citizens made a vigorous defence. ' The movement, of the Prussians along the Aube seams to have been arrested. They are telling back on St. Dizier. Large bodies ot Infantry are passing through Lannevllle and Bayonne. Latest Reporta from London. LONDON-, August 28. The'-following official dispatch ls dated Bar le-Duc, Friday; aid comes via Berlin : "The garrison of Vitry has surrendered.'" The Gaulois says it is reported that the Prus? sian administration of Alsatia and Lorraine was exceedingly exacting. The Constitutionnel says that the army of the Prince Royal, rein ! arced by a part of the army of Frederick Charlee, is marching on Paris; through the valleys ol the Aube and Seine. The Prussians must know how adventurous such an attempt will be, and the peril into which they are leading their main army. McMahon may cul- this communication and place them be? tween twp fires. To avoid this danger, {he Prussians made great efforts, by attacking Ba? zaine three times, which the French success? fully resisted; when, despairing of their abil? ity, to conquer Bazaine, they decided merely to keep Bazaine in cnjji and march on Paris. From Pans to the nearest point on the Ger? man frontier is one hundred leagues, which Une the Prussians mast defend. To subsist on the country the Prussians mast extend their llnefl and disperse their forces. Nothing is sb fatal. To us ?^g is but the commencement ol the campaign, and our revenge, says the Con? stitutionnel, is near at hand.. The' arrest of vagrants, and suspected per? sons in Paris has been suspended for the want of places in .which to confine them; but the Journals say that the prisoner* now in custody wjU soon be disposed of and the arrests re? sumed. . .The Paris Figaro says that the opinion pre? vailed in the Corps L?gislatif yesterday that the Prussians may reach Paris In a week. Le Soif says that the siegeof Paris ls now deemed inevitable. It ls even said that the govern? ment prefers that result to a pitched battle. The papers Invite the French people to rash to the defence of their capital in spite of the supineness of ' the government. The Paris Journals say that the advance ot the Crown Prince is fatal to the Prussian campaign? The Opinion Nationale says that battles were fought on the 23d and 24th instants, which re? sulted in the wholesale slaughter of the Prus? sians. Steinmetz was beaten on the former and Prince Frederick Charles on the latter day. The forts around Paris are now fully armed, garrisoned and provisioned. The removal of the seat of government to Lyons is suggested. At Epernay, on Thursday, the National Guard repulsed the Prussians. The attack on Verdun was also repulsed by the Garde Mobile. 'The- Prussian scouts are at Aras-sur-Aube; and near Lyon. in the Corps L?gislatif, yesterday, Palikao announced that ten thousand Prussians had attacked Verdon, bot were repulsed with heavy loss. Arago' demanded information as to the present situation of the Prussian armies, but the Minister ol War declined to reply. The law enrolling married men who had al ready served lathe army was rejected. Thiers, who had.bees appointed on the com? mittee ol defence by a special decree, ex? plained his position. Be said he only knew of his appointment from the Journal Officiel of that morning. He accepted; but the Cham? bers must support him. [Applause.) The President announced that the entire Chamber accepted the appointment ol M. Thiers. To ? question by Ricard, Palikao replied that the distribution ol arms to the National Guard was ?ne prerogative of his administra? tion,' ana ie would not:permlt lt to devolve on In the Senate, M. Lavabit, after consultation with the Minister of War, was giving details of the occupation of the country -by the Prus? sians. He said that certain villages and towns had been Invaded which had surrendered too quickly. It was hardly their fault, however, but that of the government. The Cabinet, with a strange lack ol fore? thought, had constantly refused to arm the people of Alsatia, Lorraine and Champaign, thu3 betraying a lack of confidence in the people which had cost, the country dear. Had the peasants, who are good marksmen, been armed, the army of the Prince Boyal of Prus? sia would not so easily have crossed the Vosges, where our men, concealed, could have so harassed them, and France would not have been compelled to abandon her second line of defence. WASHINGTON ITS MS. WASHINGTON, August 28. The Treasury Department will purchase one million in bonds on September 1st, and the same amount on every alternate Thursday of the month, also two millions of bonds on Sep? tember 8th, and the same amount on every alternate .Thursday, making seven millions in all. The Treasury will also sell one million in gold each Wednesday, four millions in all dur? ing the month. Attorney-General Akerman decides that he has nothing to do with the conflict between State and Federal laws regarding voting In the States. Parties must appeal to the courts. The question at issue Involves the right of ex ConfederateB to vote in Missouri. WEEKLY COTTON STATEMENT. NEW YORK, August 28. The cotton movement for the week has been light. Receipts at all the ports 5454 bales, against 5287 bales-last week; 5517 hales the previous week, and ?745 bales three weeks since. Receipts at all tiie ports since Septem? ber 2.898,100 bales, against 2,121,910 bales in the corresponding period last year. Increase 766,919 bales. The present is the last week of the cotton year. The following is a compara? tive statement of the crop receipts at the ship? ping ports:. This year 23,981,103 bales; last year 2,100,428 bales; add overland direct to manufacturers, this year 258.711 bales; last year 258.611 bales; manufactured South this yew 100,000 bales; last year 80,000 bales; total this year 3,256,720 bales; last year 2.439, 039 bales. The cotton on the plantations and In the Interior towns will Increase the crop from fifty to one hundred thousand bales. The week's exports from all the ports were 2997 bales; last week 5762 bales; corresponding week last year 12,760 bales. Total exports for the cotton year 2,167,323 bales; last year 1,443,114 bales; stock reports 77,625 bales, against 13.362 bales last year; Interior towns 17,726 bales, against 19,104 bales last week; and 422 bales same date last year; stock at Liverpool 52,400 bales,against 248,000 bales last year. American cotton afloat 50,000 bales, against 20,000 bales last year. Indian cotton afloat 469,226 bales, against 786,823 bales las. year. Cotton market here unchanged. - The demand (chiefly for spinning) for future cotton was more active at the close; quotations 19c. lor. October delivery. - MISCELLANEOUS WAR ITEMS. " Forty-live thousand Prussian wounded have been sent to Germany. Newspaper correspondents have been dis? missed from the Prussian headquarters. Emperor Napoleon has declined the services o? 8500 Irish auxiliaries tendered by James Stephens. The latest story Invented about the French is, that the horses killed in battle are served to the French soldiers as meat rations. The Pope repeats his denial of the story that he congratulated Prussia on her success In the field.. The Courier of New Russia reports that the leaves to the Cossacks of the Don have been suspended. They will be ordered to their re? spective camps for exercise. The French captured Prussian cannon at Longueville and at Mars Ia Tour. The Prus? sians have taken no French guns since the bat lie ol Woerth. At Saint Marie aux Cheves, Marshal Canro bert threw himself before his troops, and after a sharp sword combat with a Prussian officer, drove the enemy back., Michel Alois Ney, Duke of Elchingen, re? ceived taree sabre cuts across the face at the battle of Gravelotte. He was promoted to a colonelcy on the fleid. A Prussian colonel has written to Emile Gl rardln, offering a wager that he will be in Paris on the lath of September. GI -a rd in pub? lishes the letter, and announces his acceptance of the wager. The French are about to try the plan of hos? pital tents, which were so successful during our civil war. The season ls favorable for the experiment, and the wounded will be able to enjoy the luxury ot fresh air. the English army Is being rapidly and large? ly recruited from unemployed laborers. The navy is also having its force Increased, more by boys under sixteen years of age than by men, the object being to train up a new crop of seamen. Advices from Berlin state that in conse Suence of renewed rumors of Italian interven ion in favor of France, the Prussian govern? ment had adopted precautionary measures. Special couriers had left lor Rome and Flor-, ence with dispatches. Edmund About says that it is the habit of the Prussian soldiers on going Into battle to tear off their cumbrous helmet and fight barehead? ed. The field oi Koniggratz, after the battle, was strewn with these helmets. The French grenadiers have declined to wear their great bearskin hats Into battle. The special correspondent of the London Times, speaking of the battle of Woerth, save: "The Prussians, like generous enemies, admit the gallantry which could not resist them, and ? the eoldiers say that nothing In the hottest of the fighting at Konlggratz could at all compare with the fighting at Woerth. * .. At Weissenburg the Marquis d'Espinilles, colonel of cavalry, at the head of tbe Third Hussars, in order to give the Douav Division time, oharged seventeen times on the Prussian columns. At the last charge the regiment was reduced to fifty men. but the colonel. coveredVith wounds, led his men aaain. The American Register, at Paris, announces that "several of the largest firms in France have given splendid proofs of patriotism and large heartedness in assuring, 6ome o? them, full pay during the war, and some of them hali" pay to those of their employees who have join? ed the army." An Increasing: anti-German agitation per? vades Russia. The leaders of ihe- Muscovite party openly clamor for war, and they protest that Prussia detains two and a half millions of Poles from their proper allegiance. There are reports to-day of a ferment among the Germans of Esthonia and Courland. Should these be true, Russia will strike at once and heavily. There is a new current of feeiing In Engiand in the belief that France tends to a republic, and that Bismarck wishes to anuex Alsace and Lorraine to Germany, which make English? men favor France. The absence of the Queen, too, is attributed to her Prussian sympathies, and it is arousing a bad feeling. A leading nobleman said yesterday, in a political club, that the Queen" and King William are doing more lor Napoleon than ne is doing for him? self. It has been reported that the cholera has broken out in the Prussian army around Metz, and there i3 no improbability in the report. Before the war was begun at all, it was an? nounced that the disease had made its appear? ance at several of the Baltic ports, and as pestilence 1B always sure to follow the track of Seat armies, it would not be surprising to irn that, anon, it was working as much havoc in. the oupoelog camps as those terrible handmaids of death, the mitrailleur and the MARCHING ON PARIS. THE PEOPLE EXCITED AND PRE? PARING FOR A DESPERATE DEFENCE. SELECTION OF A SEAT OF G0VERNMEN1 IN CASE OF THE FALL OF PARIS. THE PROCLAMATION OP THE CROWN PRINCE TO THE FRENCH. REPORTED BATTLE NEAR RHE1AI3. TACTICS OF MCMAHON. Prussian. War Dispatches. ' BERLIN, August 27-G P. M The general headquarters are temporarily St. Dizier. Great quantities of stores for the Prussian army are at Nancy. Metz was com pletely invested at 8 o'clock this morning Bazaine, who is In command there, makes effort to force a passage. Deserters report extreme demoralization of the garrison. The Prussians are strongly entrenched at and be? fore M?tz. Of the three new armies' Just organized Germany, one will march on Paris with the Prince Royal; the other will remain to protect the rear. Paris is considerably excited over the story of an inundation at Metz, and the drowning of an entire army corp3. The story is generally discredited. Madam Pourtales and Madame Vathque are Imprisoned at Vincennes as Prussian spie The government talks of executing them. A note has been sent from Berlin addressed to the Prussian envoys in regard to a flag truce, asking a cessation of hostilities to bury the dead, which truce was refused and the fla insulted three times. Prussia, therefore, de? clares Its resolution to offer no diplomatic ne gotlatlons to the French people until the em pire is declared atan end. Reserves are organizing here under General Canstien. and at Giogan under Lowenfleld. French War Dispatches. PARIS, August 26-Midnight. The following Is made public at the office of the Minister of the Interior: "The Prussians are passing through Nancy, going towards Chalons. The siege of Toul is abandoned owing to the vigorous resistance of the tiarri son. Prussian scouts cut the railway at Tamo nllly, between Montmedy and Mezleres. They were repulsed by French sharpshooters, and the road repaired. The Rmsslans at Stenay are falling back on Dun, further south/' The King and Crowi? Prince are marching on the city, via Marne and Aube. They commit fear ful pillage and unheard-of outrages en route. PARIS, August 27. The Moniteur says : "'The Prussians wish to Invest Paris, but France will Invest lt before them. Every department, without the loss of an hour, and with that unanimity which alone promises great results, form corps of volun teers. In 1848 an important movement took place, and the order which saved us then saves us to-day. It is safety to our native land which rouses us all. The country Is degene rate If In less than forty-eight hours our en thnslasm do not make itself widely known and if the provinces do not send to Paris at least 50,000 (?) defenders. Our material inter? est as well as love ol country invite us to every sacrifice. Ought we not to be more willing to expend our resources in driving out the enemy than be compelled to yield him the victory and disgraceful tribute." The Journal Officiel to-day publishes a de? cree adding Thiers to the Committee of De? fence. This movement seems to be a very popular one on the part ol the government. Many of the j ournalB to-day dwell on the ne? cessity of this appointment, and praise his patriotism. Thiers has been in consultation with generals and artillery officers In the past two weeks, and with them visited the fortifi? cations and works, and has also assisted the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in pro? viding stores for the use of the city in case of siege. The Journal Officiel states that the govern? ment is acting in concert with the Chambers on the question of preparing Paris for a siege. Orders have been given to admit wines Into the city free of duty; also other merchandise and provisions, for a certain period. It also says Belgium has announced her determina? tion to oppose ail violation of her territory by arms if necee ssary. The Constitutionnel, says the order calling out for active service al) former soldiers, from the ages of 25 to 35, married or unmarried, created considerable uneasiness, and adds: "It were better to Incorporate three hundred and fifty thousand of the Garde Mobile In the regular army." It also adds: "The Prussians act not only against ordinary military laws, but also those of humanity. At Strasbourg they force young men to work in the trenches under threats of death, and 6hots from the be? sieged city filled them. Thus Frenchmen are forced to kill their brethren. Such acts are unworthy of the age, and give a singular idea of Prussian civilization, which only tends to increase French hatred and augment the determination to punish the Prussians. Gambetta and two distinguished lawyers have already recruited 12,000 work? men and requested lo have the defence of Fort de Bicetre, on the southern border of the city."' The Constitutionnel adds : uWe must prepare as though we expected the enemy at the gates to-morrow. We must be calm, reso? lute and ready to face danger. When places like Toul, Strasbourg. Pialsburg and Metz re? sist so bravely, shall not Paris, so strong, so drtScult to surround, keep back the enemy ? We are more than 300,000 strong, not counting ail who are able to bear arms. Our city must be a rampart of civilization." The assertion of the corresponden: of the Daily News that the Garde Mobile is composed of children under eighteen is untrue. Every member is from twenty to twenty-five. More 'arrests are making under Trochu's decree. The morning's journals persist in reporting a serious engagement within the past few days, resulting in favor ot the French. There are now in Paris 15,000 sheep. 40,000 hogs and 25, 000 beeves. In case of a siege the authorities will prevent unreasonable prices for the neces? saries of life. Several more spies were exe? cuted" to-day. The Prussian approach causes intense excitement. Dispatches from various provinces announce a sudden aDd immense increase of volunteering for ihe defences of the eapital. The railway station at Rheims was recently pillaged by bummers, and the imperial bag? gage stolen, which has since been disposed of to various dealers here. Tte value of the pro? perty laken is immense. The Emperor is with McMahon, who is on a retreat bv way ol' Vouziers. The Presse affirms that Steinmetz ls cut off from Fred Charles and driven northward; alBotha Prussians were decidedly checked at Mez It is reported the government is prepai note to its representatives, announcing France will prosecute the war to the las tremlry, and no propositions looking peace will be entertained while the enem on the soil. The following is official, which ls furnl by the'Minister of the Interior: "Alor Prussian cavalry was seen in the Arcls of Aube." [Arcls Is the capital of the de ment of Aube, sixteen miles north ol Trc and twenty-five south of Chalons.] A detachment of uhlans attacked the road depot at Epernay, while others 01 main body entered the town. The Nat! Guard attacked and repulsed them, kl seventeen. A strong column of Prussia; tillery has entered Chalons. The garrlsc Strasbourg yesterday sortied and captui conroy of cattle and some munitions, city still makes a vigorous resistance. large body of Germans, supposed to be landwehr, lately passed through Nancy, Couleurs and JolnvIUe for Chalons. Th port of the appearance of Prussian scou Chateau Thlery ls unconfirmed. Detachm are reported to-day at Rheims, Varennes, dun, Pfalsburg, Bar le Duc, ^Stenay and railroad between Soissons and Rheims. MANHEIM. August : The French General Bataille ?3 moving idly. General Le Grande was killed at Gravel He left eleven daughters. English War Dispatcher. . NEW YORK, August ! The New York World's special from Lor reported a battle yesterday near Rhe Heavy cannonading was heard. No par lars. The engagement was^probably bet^ McMahon and Prince frederick, or the Cr Prince. The Crown Prince, at Bar le Due, was jol by a part of the King's forces. The un army is moving rapidly, and will prob reach Paris on Tuesday or Wednesday. King's object ls to conclude the campaig speedily as possible. Napoleon is with McMahon, but McMahi whereabouts are unknown. Public feelin Paris ls very hopeful. AU vagrants and women are turned out of Paris. LONDON, August 2 The Prussian headquarters are at Bar le I The advance had reached a point midway tween Chaions and Epernay. The march Paris ls to bo conducted leisurely by the Pi shins, as no further opposition is anticip?t There is authority for saying that the fortlf tlons of Paris, unless manned by 300,000 m are worthless. French reports say Lunev ls so filled with Prussian wounded that 2 are left unsheltered. Bismarck's son ls more seriously wounc than at first reported. He has been ? home. Bourges, the capital city of the departmi of Cher, is fortifying. It is stated that the E peror and members of the Senate and Coi L?gislatif will gonhlther. The right wing the French army has already taken that dlr? tion. Austria has concurred In the declaration neutrality accepted by Itaiy. The Russi Minister has relumed to St. Petersburg frc Vienna. The object of his visit was to exp? on the part ol'Russia a strong desire to ii prove their relations with Austria. Austi reciprocates, and ls anxious to contribute its fulfilment. Ratifications of treaties guara teeing the neutrality of Belgium were e changed here to-day by the various Europet powers. A Junction of Bazaine with McMahon is n yet effected. The Prussian Prince Royal has issued a pr clamatlon saying Prussia makes war again the Emperor, not the people. The peop have nothing to lear. The Prince announc his purpose to restore every line of travel 1 tercepted or destroyed by army operations, i that labor and commerce may everywhere 1 renewed. French officials are ordered to r main at their posts; their personal safety guaranteed. The Hessians, according to the French, ai distinguishing themselves by traditional pi l?ge and brutality. Metz ls gorged with wounded, and prov sions are failing. The reported imprisonment of Madame Ta cher la Pagerle Is untrue. She ie in Br tagne. The Prince Imperial is at Bethel, twent; three miles from Mezlere. Bazaine officially reports the French loss i Rezonville at 23,000. Representatives of France, England an Prussia have signed the Belgian neutral!! treaty. The Times, reviewing the Prussian's r< sources, says: "Three armies of reserve have been formed to await events-one o the Rhine, under the Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin; one at Berlin, under General Cac -taine, and one in Silesia, under General Tor rentzerg."' According to the French repjrt 15,000, am according to the Prussian report, 20,000 Frencl soldiers are disabled by hospital and typhm fever. The Prussians are intensely incensad aboul firing on flags ot truc9. The famxzs cigar steimer (probably Winans; passed Dover sroin<r eastward. The Prussians say bau* the journey to Part* is accomplished, and all obstructions aie .'efl behind. TueEazliah Government, while its militia andvo'aateera are only half armed, ships 4.0 000 nflis to the'Continenb, and at the sams time the English p3ople send lint and band* apealo? toe wounded. A movemsnt to aid French and German wounded ba* become universal io England. Tbs northern movamcnt of McMahon ie fully confirmed. A fight occurred yeeterdiy near Montmedy between the advauced detachments of the French and Prussian armies. The Prussians wero repulsed. A large reinforcement was sent from Paris by the Noribern Railway for McMahon's army. The tactics of ile Mahon appear to be to eet np tbe broken corps, thereby io swell his ranks and then sweep along the bnrders of B?lgium, avoiding a bittle, and make a junction with il?tzlrom the north. If successful, he will cut tue Prussian communication at St. A^old. This is supposed to be the policy of Palikao, hinted at iii the C^rps Leuislatif a few days ago. The Prussians captured General Montaigne, heretofore reported wounded. A mtetins at Sligo, in ireland, to form an association to aid the wounded, .'manifested a strong sympathy for France. ?Henry Labjuchere write? to the Telegraph fi on Paris that the Emperor is virtually suspended. His Cabir.et remains in power ody because its chief is thought to possess administrative capaci*y. Tbe Corps Legielii tif is anpreme, bnt is conscious ol a lack of national confidence, owing to the manner of ita election. Trocha and the committee of defence are ruling France absolutely. .The Marquis of Hereford, who died in Paris, bequeathed tbe Prince Imperial a large sum. The Prussians will eend no more flags of truce. The Prussians are still endeavoring to divert the river 111 from Strasbourg. If they succeed the moat will be left dry. ADDITIONAL DISPATCHES. We get the following irom the special tele? grams to the Northern papers : MOVEMENTS OF THE FRENCH ARMY. LONDON. August 24. The New York Tribune's special correspon? dent, writing from Rheims on Monday, says: The Chalons camp ls so completely deserted that not a straggler ls to be seen. We found them again on the road to Rheims, which was crowded with troops of every form. As we approached the city we saw the French army encamped parallel to the road from St. Men? hould, and separated irom lt by the Noor Vesle. They are camped on the right bank of the Vesle, looking clown the stream. I will not pretend to say what this unex? pected movement, meant, but it looks as if part at least of Bazalne's forces had escaped rrom Metz and are expected to Join the Cha? lons army at or near Rheims. There is a rumor that Bazaine is passing through Grand pre and Vouzliers. What makes it look prob? able ls the Btrong force of light cavalry here two brigades of chasseurs and hussars. They are probably the advance guard. Since I began this letter news has been re? ceived at the prefecture that Bazaine, with parts of hli? army, ls in full retreat by Vouziers. very hard pressed by the Prussians. He was obliged to abandon bis retreat by the Verdun road, which was completely in possession of | the Prussians, and that is why all prisoners and munitions were sent back irom Verdun to Rheims. If any loree has succeeded in reach? ing Vouziers, or ls on the road thither, lt must have escaped from "Metz on the northwest, or 1B, perhaps, that column which we believed had got past Gravelotte before the Prussians seized the road on the 18th. But no word has come direct from Bazaine for two days, and my belief is that he ls cutoff. At any rate, bis nearest line of retreat was closed, and ii he has been driven off loto Ardennes there ls no telling where the expected Junction of his forces with those of McMahon can be accomplished; and if they Join, who is to com? mand, for neither will serve under the other. Discontent Is spreading fast among the troops, and even among the officers, who are discour? aged by the failure ot Bazaine thus far to unite with McMahon. This letter, although written two days ago. and arriving this morn? ing by post, supplies later news of the position of the French forces than has been allowed to come by telegraph. It lends an air of proba? bility to the extraordinary story that Bazaine has made his escape with parc of bis forces from Metz-cutting through the extended Unes of the Prussians-a story of which there is as yet no word of confirmation from the Prussian side. French telegrams, both dated yesterday morning and evening, and received in London simultaneously this morning, place McMahon first at Chalons and then at Rheims. The lat? ter ls true, as the above letter shows. THE ALLEGES VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY. I have the highest authority for contradict? ing the statement of the French that the Prus? sians had Bought permission from France to transport their wounded to and through Lux? embourg. The French Insist on this, as lt Im? plies admission of defeat. What happened was this: The Prussian Government applied to know whether they would consider the transport of wounded men through Luxem? bourg a violation of neutrality. Tue English Government asked the French authorities whether they objected. The French replied yes, because lt opens ihe Prussian railway to the unrestricted transmission ol troops and sup? plies. Prussia rejoins: Three-filths of the. wounded we want to send are French. If | you object, we must attend to our own first; nor are military trains capable of being em? ployed for wounded. Mr. Gladstone favors the Prussian view, but Mr. Hammond, the under secretary of the loreign office, opposed on technical grounds, and If the Frenen insist on their view, nothing will be done, and the French soldiers will have their own govern? ment to thank tor needlessly prolonging their suffering. REPORTED PEACE MEETINGS DISCREDITED.- , The reported meeting of foreign ambassa? dors at Paris to consider possible terms of peace ls wholly discredited". Prussia would consider such meetings held In the enema's capital a great discourtesy. Such an Initiative would be considered as serious if taken io Lon? don or St. Petersburg; in Paris almost a viola? tion of neutrality, and Prussia neither believes the statement >.or would listen tor a moment to any proposal so originating. THK FIRST NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. A special correspondent sends the following from Hamburg, on Monday, an account of the first naval engagement of the war: OQ the morning ot the 17th, the German dispatch boat Grille started out ot the Bay of Rugen to reconnoitre the position and strength of the French 6hlps, wnose arrival in the neigh? borhood had been reported, though no? body bas as yet seen them. After proceeding out to sea until within sight of the Danish island of Moen Grelle, she ac length discovered the tall masts of the squad? ron, consisting of seven iron-clad frigates and a couple of smaller vessels, and approached boldly until within 3000 paces. The French then opened fire and directed eeveral broad Bides at the little, craft, at the same time giv? ing chase. Every now and then lying to to fire a few shots at her pursuers from her two rifled twelve-pounders, In answer to the guns of the whole fleet, she lured them to follow her as far as the posthouse at Witton, where three gunboats, the Drake, Blitz and Sala? mander, were lying, which, on hearing the report of the cannonading ac sea, immediate? ly got up steam and weighed anchor to stand by their consort. The commodore of the little squadron, Captain Count Von Walderze, made a signal to the commander of each gunboat to attack the enemy at his own dis? cretion, which produced loud cheers, and they all steamed out ready for action with the superior force of the enemy. After a run? ning fight ot three hours, the gunboats, find? ing that their guns were harmless against the plated sides of the Iron-clads, returned to the protection of their shore batteries towards eve? ning. Though the French pointed their guns in a good direction, they either fired too nigh or too low. But lt was difficult, in a fresh breeze, to take steady aim at the little gup boat, lying low in the water and painted gray, so as to be almost invisible. Several shots from the gunboats lilt their mark, and shells from the Salamander were seen to explode on the deck of one of the ships, and must have done some damage to men at their guns. The German flotilla suffered no losses whatever, ! .though It might have been very different had any of the heavy twenty-eight centimetre shells fired from the French ships taken effect and exploded on the deck ol the gunboats. The latter having filled up their stock of ammuni? tion and coals at Stralsund, returned to their station in the outer roads where they are in outpost duty. THE BOMBARDMENT OF PKALSBURG. A correspondent with the headquarters of the Crown Prince describes the bombardment of Pfalsburg on the 14th instant. Pfalsburg has already detained a number of German guns lor two or three days, and when las: seen ft showed no signs of giving in. True, the guns there detained are of light calibre, they are nevertheless kept irom other works. This is something for Pfalsburg to do. The town was sharply cannonaded this morning. TUE RECENT FRENCH OPERATIONS. NEW YORK, August 27. The Paris correspondent ot the Courrier des Etats Unis, in reviewing the recent move? ments of the French armies, says: "After the defeat ol Froschweiller, the debris of the corps engaged retreated in pretty good order upon Saverne and Nancy, where "they were transported to Chalons by the Strasbourg Rail? way as rapidly as the disorganized service of that line would permit. On the other hand, a part of the troops encamped in Centrebod. south of Alsace, as well as the large garrison of Kelfort, were sent lorward to Chalons by the Paris and Mulhaus Railway. At the same time an expeditionary force was concentrated at Cherbourg in order to operate on the shores of the Baltic, and nearly 40,000 troops or the Une were also dispatched to Chalons, where they all arrived in five days. These foi added to the 15,000 regulars from Parts the frontier towns near Belgium, made ui effective army of 100.000 men: 35.000 of the bile were also added to them. and. under th rections of General Trochu. these forces. In entirely distinct, have not been slow to sol?date Into an army, homogeneous and ured to war, and provided with all the ne sary material for campaign. After c pleting the formation of this army. Gen Trochu went to Paris to organize and cr another new army. After having rallied,1 considerable loss, the last detachment ol corps beaten In the battle of the 6th of Aug Marshal McMahon arrived at Chalons, ana been placed at the head of the army ra by General Trochu. His first care wa secure his communication with Map Bazaine, who has almost been hemmet around Metz by the Prussians. He succeet I am sure, and his advance posts extern far as Mezieres, Montmedy. the Arder Railroad and a line parallel with the front a fact which proves that the communlcat! with Metz are intact There was an arr ?esterday at Boissons of a great numbe russians made prisoners at Gr?vele another convoy being also on Its way. ' fact proves that this day, so fiercely dlspu was not without giory for us, since we leisure to make and guard prisoners. Ai the plans ol Marshal McMahon, nothing ls ] Hely known here, but I will take care that shall be promptly informed. The ministry inflexible on this point, and you would noi celve the dispatch which I should send. Prince Royal, of Prussia, seems to realize risks which he was running, or he will eventually to go to the aid of His confeder in the campaign, for it ls affirmed here i he has retraced his steps and retreated ot Mihlel. It may. be true, however, accordin another report, that he continues his marci Parts by the valley of Aube. In any case are ready to receive him. The work on fortifications ls almost finished. Yesterday erection of the drawbridges at the crossing the principal roads was completed, and bastions have been constructed ac each trance and posterns, whose batteries will liver a heavy cross fire. The armament of Dnenis and of Mount Valerian ia really foi dable. BAZA IKE'S POSITION DEFINED. Bull Run Russell telegraphs from Lux bourg, under date of August 24th, to the ? York Sun as follows : Notwithstanding all mv efforts, I did not i ceed in reaching Bazaine. I found the P sians guarding every pass. At Uckange, gondange and Ricbemond the Prussians h cut the railroad between Metz and Thlonv They hold these places in force. The railr between Thionvllle and Montmedy is also > Bazaine le not at Verdun. He ls shut up 1 Prussian net between Metz. Hagondange town eonth of Thionvllle.) the Aisne, ana road from Metz to Etain; [In other words zalne is shut up in an equilateral triangle, ?1 being its southeastern apex.] McMahon Chalons alter burning lils camp the From Chalons he marched to Bhelms. Rheims he left part of his troops with the I peror Napoleon, and with the remalm marched off In a northeast direction. I he been unable to ascertain whether this is an lort to Join Bazaine or a mere reconnolssan So far as I can see, the spirit of the Frei troops is excellent: but I never before saw much Incompetency and disorder In milite manoeuvring. I feel sure that the leaders do sav anything because they don't know at thing. The Duchess Tascher La Pagerie has be exiled from France for giving inform?t! from the Tuileries to Count Bismarck. Nie; and Cher have been placed under martial la I am about to make another effort to rea Bazaine, but it ie very dangerous and expe sive. The Prussians don't care about Ame cans any more than they care about Chlnei MCMAHON'S STRENGTH AND MOVEMENTS. LONDON, August 27. A special to the New York Tribune sa; The special correspondent from Rheims Tuesday sends very Important and late ne of French movements, which are not allow to be telegraphed. Yesterday evening the were about 150,000 troops at and about Rheii under McMahon, During the night they begi to move toward Ardennes, and are still movli in that direction. By noon this place will entirely evacuated. They take the road Bethel and Mezleres, but even the officers < not know how tar they will go In that dire tlou. If what ls believed here about Bazali be true, the two armies will soon 1 united. Bazaine ls reported at headquarters have said that he could beat the'enemy < the 20th, but if he waited until the 25th 1 could annihilate them. This afternoon tl march of the troops, which was begun la night, continues. Artillery, iniantry and ca airy are pouring uninterruptedly through tl town. It is raining hard to-day. I compu that nearly 200,000 men In all have passe There ls no longer a donbt about the dlrectk of this movement. From officers of the ba gage and supply trains I learn that they ha^ orders to go direct to Montinedy* Two baggage men, who tried to get towan Verdun, lind been stopped by uhlans, and i reports agree that every road thitherward picketed by Prussians. RAPID REORGANIZATION. Reorganization proceeds with the utmo dispatch. As an example, a supply train i 500 wagons, fully equipped, was Organize? and reached Rheims lrom Verdun In thre days. High officers are positive that part < Bazalne'sTorces are between Brier and Etaii Our own movements irom Rheims to join bli are made with the utmost secrecy. The secon army ol reserves, now forming near Chal?n comno8ed ol' old soldiers, will" reach 350,0( men'. The Emperor will command the In perial Guard In person. . ADVANCE OF THE CROWN PRINCE. Our special correspondent ac the Crow Prince's headquarters, on the 17th, says ther ls no delay in the advance. Town after tow is occupied, which you hear of. but you ca scarcely realize the extent of the invaslor While the Crown Prince has advanced throug Northern Alsace In Lorraine, two other Gei man armies have entered French territor from Rhenish Prussia, and the reserves ar ever increasing. It is no exaggeration to sa that the conquered provinces will barely holi the troops pouring Into them. PFALSBL'F.G. Pfalsburg holds out. Genera! Alhont receiv ed a flag of truce with a firm refusal to Burren der, adding that he should the next day, tin 15th, fire a salute of twent y-one guns in bonoi of the Emperor. THE BREAKING UP AT CHALONS. A Tribune special correspondent at Parli writes on Wednesday before the Chalons cami was raised, that it was fired to prevent thc Prussians from occupying it. and to destroy e great quantity of stores thal they had not time to remove. Telegraph clerks and other official! only received orders on the previous evening to pack up. STRASBOURG. The bombardment of Strasbourg ls said tc have inflicted but little damage thus far. Heavy siege artillery ls coming up from Lan? dau. Raspadt, Mayence. and other Prussian lortresses. A BLAST AT THE NEW LOAN". A special correspondent writes from Paris on Wednesday evening that the new loan is a striking failure compared with former sub? scriptions. Adding the estimated cost of af? fecting the loan, the deficiency ol subscrip? tions on the first day is one 'hundred and eighty-five millions, while iormer imperial loans were covered many times over. The full amount of this will be nominally made up, but a considerable part by subscriptions of speculators who cannot pay calls. TROCHU'S POWER DECLINING. The private correspondent before quoted writes from Paris on Wednesday: "Trochu's power daily appears more nominal than real. He said himself yesterday to Gambetta that he bad none, confessing his willingness, but in? ability, to'allow the reappearance of the Cloche and Centre Gouche newspapers recently sup pressed.-' THE ''LEFT" TOO SLOW. Perslgny said yesterday to American friends that the want of capacity and fidelity among Imperialists has destroyed the empire. Mode? rate Republicans begin to think it time to act. and they chafe at the slowness of the Left. MAJOR BONAPARTE. Major Bonaparte, of Baltimore, just promot? ed to a lieutenant-colonel, has not Joined his regiment, but is practicallv commandant at the Tuileries. He says the Empress behaves wff h due pluck and dignity. The storv that she wrote to the Emperor to put Louis tinder fire, and not where spent balls fell, is not true; but it ia true that she spoke impatiently' of the Em? peror for not exposing himself. Government still withholds arms from all who refuse to go> to the frontier. . . .. IMPORTANCE OP M'MAHON'S MOVEMENTS. LONDON. August 25. A special to the New York Tribune says : The arrival of the King of Prussia at Bar-le Due ls the best comment on the French stories; assiduously spread in Paris, that the Prussians were caught in a trap at Metz. Marshal McMahon's movements are known to the Prussians, and they do not think them of enough consequence .to delay the advance ot the Crown Prince, or to prevent a detach ment? or parts ot Steinmetz and Prince Frederick: Charles's forces to strengthen their column moving on Paris. The Prussian front now stretches thirty or forty miles, the main column now marching by Bar-Ie-Duc and Vltrey, while the left wing; has enveloped Cbanmont and Brlenne, from twenty-live to forty miles southward of the line of march of the main column'. The French War Onice privately asserts, nevertheless, that Marshals McMahon and Bazaine are In full communication. and pressing the Prussians, which anybody may believe who likes. THE RECENT BATTLES. MEZIEP.ES, August 26, via PARIS. Details which are coming in here show that the Prussians received a serious check, and suffered enormous losses in the battles of the last week. After the last battle the wounded of both armies were brought here. There were over 12,000 Prussians, who were treated as well as our own wounded. The battle of the 18th was a real success for our arms. Its result was to render it Impossi? ble for all of King William's army to Join that of the Crown Prince. Only a small portion o? the King's army went from Pont-a-Moussop to Bar-le-Duc to lake part in the movement ou Paris. PARIS REPORTS. PARIS, August 26*. Numbers of soldiers under arrest In different parts of France for light offences have been pardoned, and will immediately join their regiments. Sixty thousand dollars has been received here from the French residents In the United States for the wounded, and a large sum has been received from Constantinople. Accounts received from places now occupied by the Prussians show that the hostility of the Inhabitants ls Increasing, and is encouraged by the Garde Mobile. Sharpshooters attack small bands of Prussians, killing and wounding many. The provincial journals say that the Prussians increase the anger of the peasants by desecrating the Catholic churches. Several rich prizes have been taken by the fleets lu the Channel and the Baltic. The Liberte quotes from the law of 1832 to show that all foreigners remaining in Paris may, In case of siege, be called upon to serve with the National Home Guard.. Letters from Rheims, and one received via Belgium, from the French camp, report that Bazaine gained a great advantage In the bat? tle on the 23d, capturing many guns and prisoners. These reports, nowever, are pro? bably repetitions of previous rumors which have not been confirmen. The prefects and mayors of a number of towns occupied by the Prussians in small force will be dismissed by the government for showing too little dignity and too much readiness In receiving the in? vaders. General Yen Moltke knows that Germany, with Its system of recruiting, must conquer promptly, or she will be the victim of the cam? paign. Fifteen days of inaction on his part will give us time to form two armies, and give us time to. relnlorce those which to-day resist invasion. There ls, then, necessarily an im? mediate prospect of a serious conflict. Subscriptions for the wounded, deposited in boxes hung up In the streets of Paris, amount to 1000 francs daily. Yesterday 4020 oxen, 302 cows, 26,642 sheep and 1012 pigs were taken into the city. Thirteen deputies have been drawn for the army. The loss to German commerce by the French blockade ls a million ol dollars dally. THE CONSCRIPTION ANO DEFENCE. The drawing o? the conscription at Paris for the present year ls fixed for the 29th Instant. The call ls for a corps of 140,000 mounted vol? unteers, Instead of a corps of 90,000. Gun? boats for the defence of the city have just ar? rived. The chief command ol the squadron has been confided to Captain Thomassen, for? merly chief of staff to Admiral Juner de la Gra? vier. The committee of dele nee have decided that upon the approach of the invading army the crops of the farmers between the Seine and Marne and In the environs of Paris, such aa wheat, oats and forage, that cannot be stored in the capital, shall be burned, lest it should serve as food for the enemy. OBSTINATE DEFENCE OF PFALSBVRQ. Pfalsburg continues Its heroic defence. The church and twenty-one houses have been de? stroyed by the enemy's shells, and the garrison have repulsed two assaults, in which the Prus? sians lost 1500 men. The town is well supplied with provisions and munitions of war. Sum? moned repeatedly to capitulate, its comman? der replies he will blow the place up first. . BERLIN ITEMS. PBAOUE, August 26. One of the journals of this city publishes a letter of its Berlin correspondent, dated the 19tb, from which are extracted the following items : *'We are persuaded here that efforts are making to conceal the fact that the Prus? sian army lost seriously in the battles of the 15th and 16th. The details furnished here are not credited. It is openly asserted that tho losses are so great that the army is disor? ganized and not able to advance, which will. allow the French time to eather immense strength, and causing the Germans to pay dearly for tbe first successes. Yesterday a i demonstration was made before the palace. Crowds assembled, demanding to know the news. What the Queen informed them in re? ply was no nnre than was already known The crowd then dispersed, unconvinced and dis? satisfied." General Yon Falkenstein is moving, with the greater part of his army, to relieve King William and join the Crown Prince. The North German Government has offered Minis? ter Bancroft further supplies of meine for the support of indigent Germana expelled from Pans. Among the killed at the unmasking of a bat? tery of mitrailleurs at Mars la Tour, were Counts Westerp and Wesdala, Barons Kleist, Witalebaun, Grimm, Prince Seuss, and other . noblemen of high rank. Advices from Paria ?eport eight departments in the possession of the Prussians : Lower and Upper Rhine, Moselle, Meurthe. Meuse, Vosges. Marne, and Haule Marne. These contain 3,361.000 in? habitants, and great suffering prevails m con? sequence of Prussian requisitions. THE WEATHER AXD CROPS. Clarendon. The Press says : A pretty fair estimate can now be made as regards the crops. From ob? servation and reports gathered from various portions of the county it is believed that the provision crop is much better tbau that of last year. Cotton will not yield as weil as last year, tbe season being rather against it-the rust, too, is making its appearance in many places, and the worm is yet to be dreaded. Union. The Times says : Cotton and corn io Uris county aie looking aa well as those crops hive for many y ears We have examined a number of cotton fields, and are pleased to notice that, fe uer a Hy, the cotton stalks have a larger nurs? er of sound bolls than we ever saw in this State. We, however, regret to state that the caterpillar has made its appearance, and much apprehension is felt about it. At present no mischief bas been done by these marauders, but tbe fact tbat they havepreceptibly increas? ed in numbers during the past week, gives Sound for alarm. So far as we have hnard, ey have not made their appearance in more than two plantations. A large gun ls now In course of manufacV . ture at the royal gun factories, Woolwich, which is expected to prove the most powerful piece of ordnance ever produced, and to settle definitely the long and hitherto even contest between guns and armor. It will weigh 35 tons, and will hurl a projectile of 550 pounds, with a charge of 100 pounds of powder, there? by imparting an initial velocity which will enable it to pierce an armor plate of Iron fif? teen inches In hlckness, beyond which no ship meant to float can surely go. The barrel ls of steel, strengthened at the breech by a . strong iron jacket, and the calibre ol the bore is about llj inches, but this point has not been definitely settled. The gun is at present ex? p?rimentai, but ls expected te prove a formi oable'foe to the Iron-clads.