On Sunday, the 14th inst., the retreat to Verdun commenced,
and continued on Monday ; but moving 120,000 men, with their impedimenta, out of a fortress with few gates on one side is a slow process, and on Monday night the Marshal rested only at Grave- lottes, about seven miles out of Metz. Baron von Moltke meanwhile had resolved to stop the retreat, and on Tuesday, the 16th, Prince Frederick Charles had, by an incredible exertion, got his army to and across the Pont-h-Mouason, and his advance-guard into contact with the French Army. This force, said by the King to have been only " the cavalry of the 3rd corps," but evidently stronger, kept on attacking and getting repulsed for six hours, in order to gain time. Then, about two in the afternoon, the 10th corps (German), and, as we imagine, another, came up, and the battle became a great one, nearly 200,000 men being engaged, and the loss on both sides was enormous. The Germans took 9 cannon, 2 eagles, and 2,000 men, but were unable to drive the Marshal from his ground ; the French destroyed the Regiment Bismarck and took its colours, the French Guard, under Bourbaki, in particular, " fighting well," says King William, and being " ably handled." The fight ceased about 8 p.m., and the Marshal hints that his ammunition was all expended, and he must wait some hours for more.
