30tli Aug, 
Engage¬ 
ment of 
Beaumont 
31sfc Aug. 
498 THE‘FRANCO-GERMAN WAR (PART II.) 
To effect the passage of the Meuse at all risks with the greatest 
promptitude was the burden of the French instructions. In spite of the 
efforts of the staff, the troops on the northern road, though unmolested, 
did not succeed in crossing at Remilly till late at night.* The columns 
on the southern road were still more unfortunate, and had to pay the 
inevitable penalty of mismanagement. The 5th Corps, owing to the 
fatiguing countermarches of the last few days, and the demoralising 
effect of the night retreat it had just concluded, was very tardy in its 
movements, and shortly after noon was brusquely awakened from a 
.fancied security by vigorous shell fire. It appears that De Failly, its 
commander, was under the impression that the German forces were 
marching towards Stenay, and that his retirement would be uninter¬ 
rupted. As a fact, the whole German armies were advancing down the 
Meuse, expecting to find Macmahon in a defensive position; and it was 
some of the batteries of the Meuse Army that spread such consternation 
through the bivouacs at Beaumont. The advance of the XII. and 
I. Bavarian Corps into line rendered a retreat through the village com¬ 
pulsory, and the position taken up north of Beaumont had to be 
relinquished with heavy loss. Pressed in front and flank by superior 
numbers, De Failly retreated fighting on Mouzon—a movement much 
facilitated by the woody and intersected nature of the ground. Even¬ 
tually the river was crossed, under the protection of a portion of the 
12th Corps, after severe losses had been sustained. 
The 7th Corps, harassed in rear by cavalry, left its camping ground at 
Oches at 9 a.m., and marched by two roads to the river. The rear of 
its leading division, mistaking its way, approached close to Beaumont, 
and was utterly routed by the advancing troops of the I. Bavarians. 
The main body of the corps, after a tiresome march, crossed the river 
late at night at Remilly. Under the influence of the defeats sustained by 
his rearmost troops, Macmahon gave orders for an immediate retreat on 
Sedan, for the purpose of procuring them food, ammunition, and rest. 
Throughout the night troops of all arms, intermingled pell-mell, strove 
each man for himself to reach the required destination, and early the 
next morning the greater portion of the French army was bivouacked 
in an exhausted condition around the fortress, 
The two German armies, in a concentrated mass on the left bank of 
the Meuse, occupied meanwhile with their leading troops the line of 
Mouzon-Raucourt. 
The French fugitives came pouring into Sedan from both banks of the 
river during the early morning. The 12th Corps, which was somewhat in 
rear, did not arrive at Bazeilles till 9 a.m., when it was fired on from the 
opposite bank of the Meuse. A brisk contest with some Bavarian troops 
was carried on, finally resulting in the railway bridge being left intact 
in the enemy's hands. The 1st Corps, which had acted as rear guard, 
made from mistaken orders a circuitous march, and did not reach its 
camping ground till late at night. 
It was apparently intended to give the troops rest during this day, as 
no arrangements were made or orders given for further movement. 
* The 1st Corps—the 12th having crossed at Mouzon the previous day. 
