Meanwhile, an army, consisting of the 4th and 12th Corps
and the Royal Guard, had been formed out of the enormous force round Metz, and entrusted to the Crown Prince of Saxony, a soldier who behaved well in Bohemia, and who is heir of a kingdom saved from absorption by the interference of France. This force, 90,000 strong, was despatched westward to meet MacMahon full face, and if possible drive him back into the arms of the Crown Prince. On the 27th the advanced guards touched each other, and on that day and the 28th two, if not more, cavalry actions ended to the advantage of the Germans, who, on the 29th, were joined by the Bavarians detached by the Crown Prince to their support. MacMahon, still pushing on, crossed part of his army over the Meuse at Mouzon ; but that part was on 30th August attacked and driven back with great loss, especially in prisoners, of whom 7,000 fell into the enemy's bands. On the 31st the fight- ing continued, MacMahon apparently being driven back upon Sedan in a condition described as " almost total rout," and held at Berlin to be equivalent to complete ruin.
