192 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



the 10th German Corps, under General von Voight-Retz, 

 were attacked by the whole of the French 20th and part of 

 the 18th Corps, under Aurelles de Paladines, troops belonging 

 to Gambetta's New Army of the Loire, with which the relief 

 of Paris was to be accomplished, so it was fondly hoped. Only 

 with the greatest difficulty did the Germans hold the village, 

 until, during the afternoon, part of the 5th and 1st Infantry 

 Divisions came to the relief of the hard-pressed troops. Then 

 the French drew off under cover of the night, leaving on the 

 field more than 1,000 dead and wounded, and 1,500 prisoners 

 in the hands of the victors. The Germans, fearing a renewal 

 of the attack, took further steps to defend themselves in the 

 little town ; strong barricades and earthworks were thrown up 

 where streets opened into the country ; all outbuildings were 

 further loopholed, an outlook placed in the rickety steeple, 

 while Uhlans, of course, watched the enemy's movements. 

 In the meantime the French had retired to some low hills, 

 entrenched themselves there, and were apparently content with 

 throwing an occasional shell into the town. The advent on 

 the 29th of further German troops forced them, fighting, to 

 withdraw altogether in the direction of Orleans, which city 

 once again had a French -garrison, thanks to the strategical 

 retreat of the Bavarians. 



When all was over, poor Beaune remained, a dilapidated, 

 severely stricken village, and evidence in abundance of all the 

 horrors of war. All round the town lay the killed and wounded 

 in pools of blood, confused heaps of dead and dying horses, 

 tentes d'abris, cooking utensils, gun carriages, guns, rifles, 

 articles of clothing, &c., &c., while the ground was deeply 

 scarred by shells, the segments of which were sown thickly 

 everywhere. Parties of French prisoners were already on their 

 way to the rear, and surgeons and their staff searching every- 

 where among the heaps for those still alive. After a busy 

 time among those wounded which had already been brought 

 into the village, we went beyond the houses, there where the 

 fight had been hottest, and a ghastly picture was here revealed. 

 It was full moon, and almost as light as day. The French, 

 as they fell in their attempt to carry the village by storm, 

 lay actually in heaps, a horrible sight as the bright light lit up 

 their white and blood-bespattered faces. A few had sought 



