658 
ACHIEVEMENTS OE FIELD ARTILLERY. 
came into action was to throw the French camp into a great state of 
confusion. But the French infantry soon formed up and, undismayed 
by the panic amongst their squadrons, pressed on in superior numbers, 
and driving in the German cavalry, gained possession of Yionville in 
spite of the heavy fire from the German Horse Artillery batteries, whose 
situation as the skirmishers crept on towards the heights south of the 
village became so critical that they had to be withdrawn. 
BATTLE OF MARS-LA-TOUR, riONVILLF.—16th August, 1870. 
In place of having met with a mere covering force or rear-guard, 
Alvensleben had stumbled on vastly superior French forces, and their 
weight threatened to overpower his daring assault. 
The enemy must be held back by the arm most endowed with 
mobility and fire effect, and all the guns available were therefore 
hurried forward to grip him firmly. Thus it was that a battle, the 
results of which had, strategically speaking, the most far-reaching con¬ 
sequences, and eventually led up to the surrender of Bazaine, was 
commenced and sustained by artillery predominantly throughout the 
day. 
At 10 o’clock the four batteries of the 6th Division arrived, at 10.30 
the two Horse Artillery batteries of the Corps Artillery came up, and 
an hour later its remaining batteries of Field Artillery. The Divisional 
