ACHIEVEMENTS OP FIELD ARTILLERY. 
657 
wounded, and 34 horses killed, and 31 wonnded. The battery (6th 
heavy of 3rd Division) of the 7th Corps which joined them lost 3 men 
killed and 10 wonnded, and 7 horses killed and 11 wounded. The 
five batteries fired respectively 163, 124, 302, 280, and 182 shells, and 
one fired also 6 case shot. 
Hoffbauer also specially dwells on the conduct of the artillery mass 
formed of the Corps Artillery of the 1st Army Corps, and a battery of 
the 3rd Field Division, which was also joined in their last position by 
two Horse Artillery batteries of the 7th Corps. While in their first 
position these guns, with their concentrated fire, materially assisted the 
infantry by preparing their assault on the heights west of Lauvallier, 
while from the second position, which they took np further to their 
right, they and three batteries of the 3rd Field Division were to a large 
extent instrumental in forestalling the attempt of the French to over¬ 
lap the Herman right. Owing to the manner in which the French left 
was hammered by these batteries, it needed but very little pressure to 
make their infantry retire. 
The batteries, we are also told, came into action at very different 
ranges, varying from 800 paces— 4f reduced by the offensive thrusts of 
the enemy to 400 and 500 paces up to considerably more than 2000 
paces. 
While it was merely necessary to keep the enemy at bay during the 
commencement of the battle, and the artillery were ahead of the 
infantry, owing to their superior mobility, the g’reater ranges prevailed, 
especially so when dense columns of the French moving up from their 
rear offered a favourable target, but “ when it was desired to create a 
decisive effect the batteries showed their eagerness to prepare the attack 
of the infantry by taking up positions closer to the enemy." 
The batteries of the victors may point with pride to the words in 
which Yon Moltke has spoken of their actions :— 
(t A large share of the success of the day must be attributed to the 
artillery. Hurrying along in front of the advanced guard, the artillery 
aided them very effectively in driving the French from their position 
before Metz, and driving them back under cover of its forts, even 
before the main body had time to come up." 1 
Two days after the battle just referred to, the French, had they 
utilised their opportunities, might have been out of their opponent's 
reach on the road westwards from Metz towards Yerdun, but at nine 
o'clock, on the morning of the 16th, the 5th German Cavalry Division 
were able to surprise the bivouacs of Forton's cavalry round Yionville, 
and their four Horse Artillery batteries commenced shelling the 
French camp from the Tronville heights. 
Yon Alvensleben, commanding the 3rd Corps, with the instinct of a 
soldier, and a magnificent rashness only justified by the occasion, 
decided at once to send forward the 6th Division, with the 6th Cavalry 
Division to the attack. The Divisional Artillery of the 6th Division was 
hurried on into action to assist in the attack on the enemy's camp, and 
the Corps Artillery was also ordered forward as soon as possible. 
The effect of the shells of the Horse Artillery batteries which first 
1 44 Franco-G-eyman War.” Vol. I. 
