716 
ACHIEVEMENTS OE FIELD ARTILLERY. 
Bazeilles, which was now in German hands, the Bavarian and remaining 
Saxon batteries formed another vast link in the terrible chain which 
was binding down their gallant opponents. 
About 1.30 o'clock the most brilliant but useless effort was again 
made by Margueritte's cavalry division to force back the German 
inroad between Cazal and Floing, and relieve the left of the French 
7th Corps, which was being “overwhelmed by the shells of the Prussian 
batteries," but the splendid horse were sacrificed to no purpose, the 
vigorous flanking fire of the German guns disordered their onset, and 
after a magnificent display of courage in repeated attacks, the brave 
cavalry were finally baffled, and sought the shelter of the fortress, 
leaving half their number strewn upon the field. The French now 
evacuated Cazal and sought their last stronghold, the Bois de la 
Garenne. 
Meanwhile, however, they had made a final effort to force their way 
to Carignan, but the orders issued for the purpose had miscarried, 
and the attempt, supported by an inadequate force, died away under 
the shells from the guns on the eastern slopes of the Givonne, while the 
Germans following up their success planted their victorious cannon on 
the high ground on the west of the stream until, at 3 o’clock, 21 
batteries stood in line between Bazeilles and Haybes. 
As evening came on a considerable part of the French forces had 
taken shelter behind the old-fashioned ramparts of Sedan, while another 
vast section wandered as fugitives over the country between Cazal and 
Fond de Givonne. 
In the Bois de Garenne many corps of all arms had also sought 
cover and strayed hither and thither, like the lost souls in Hades, in a 
disorganised state, vainly seeking relief from the remorseless fire of 
the never silent guns. Large portions of cavalry, which after the 
unsuccessful charges near Floing, had thrown themselves into the wood 
with the view of breaking out northwards, or to avoid the thick shower 
of shells, increased the general confusion. But “ an impenetrable 
rampart of German guns and troops upon the heights of Fleigneux and 
to the east of the Givonne had for some time past rendered any attempt 
to break through, into Belgian territory impossible. And so annihilat¬ 
ing was the fire of the artillery that the French were scarcely capable of 
any organised resistance, when the German infantry towards 3 p.m. 
moved forward on all sides against the wood." 
Thus speaks the official account, but to tell the story of the fire 
effect of the artillery in the last scene of the mighty drama, we may 
call a witness who can testify from a personal knowledge of what 
occurred. 
After a short cannonade the 1st Division of Guards ascended the 
hills from the Givonne, the Saxons joined the forward movement on 
their left, while the left wing of the 3rd Army pressed ahead from Illy 
at the same moment. As the artillery of this 1 st division of the Guard 
emerged from the edge of the wood, Prince Kraft says: 1 “a powerful 
line of artillery (field guns and mitrailleuses) presented itself to our 
view at a range from which its fire was very effective. Most of these 
1 4tli Letter on Artillery. 
