ACHIEVEMENTS OP FIELD ARTILLERY. 
723 
Meanwhile, towards the north, Marshal Canrobert had got his 
batteries into position at 8.30, and their fire, assisted by that of the 
guns of the fortress, had driven their opponents for a brief period from 
Rupigny, but the village was soon recaptured, and three attempts to 
seize Failly were likewise foiled in succession by the Germans, who 
eventually assumed the offensive, and drove the French back over the 
Chieulles stream. 
Marshal le Boeuf, in spite of the fact that he had still two divisions 
at his disposal, so little relished the idea of again facing the formidable 
mass of guns opposed to him that as the 3rd Brigade pressed on he 
retreated, and the news of his retirement reaching Bazaine, he ordered 
a cessation of hostilities all along his line about mid-day. 
Thus 137,000 French, who had at their disposal 528 field guns and 
96 mitrailleuses (we know not how many they actually unlimbered), 
had issued from Metz on the 31st of August, only to be repulsed by no 
more than 3(i,000 Prussians with 138 guns. 1 While even at the close 
of the 1st of September the force which held the French back did not 
exceed 69,000 infantry and 290 guns. For the first time during the 
war the French had commenced by an attack, and the Germans had 
shown that they could act on the defensive, even against enormous 
odds, with the same success that had attended them when strategy had 
placed a numerical superiority at their disposal. The Chassepot had 
made itself severely felt, however, and cost them a loss of 3400, as 
against 3000 on the side of their opponents. But the German field 
guns had more than counterbalanced the rifle, its effect was decisive, 
and it was through his artillery that Manteuffel had been enabled to 
make the heroic resistance which has rendered Noisseville so celebrated. 
The late Colonel Home, R.F., in his “ Precis of Modern Tactics” 
has cited an example of the effect which masses of artillery may pro¬ 
duce from this battle. It is that due to the artillery of the 7th Corps, 
under General Woyna, which “opened fire on Flanville, situated at a 
distance of about 1200 yards ; the French infantry held this position 
strongly, and a close musketry fire had no effect on them; after a short 
time the two batteries detailed for this purpose overwhelmed the 
village with shells, the houses took fire, and the infantry abandoned 
them ; the 53rd Regiment then advanced and took it. The guns were 
next turned on Coincy, which in a short time also became untenable, 
and the French retired. The German infantry during these operations 
remained with ordered arms.” 
Space forbids us to notice as we should wish many occasions dur¬ 
ing the remainder of this great war when German guns distinguished 
themselves, and that, too, not on a small scale, if their numbers are to 
be compared with that of many bodies of artillery which in these pages 
have received mention. We can only briefly, therefore, now refer to a 
few prominent examples, but it may be taken for granted that the same 
spirit which animated the batteries we shall allude to was found in no 
less marked degree amongst those we are compelled to pass by. “Ex 
uno disce omnes ;” we will guarantee that the samples fairly represent 
what is left unviewed. 
1 Official account. Part I., Vol. II. 
96 
