he column step by step, never letting it escape their
vigilant eyes, waiting, doubtless, for a favorable opportunity to fall
on its rear. Their cavalry were on the alert to take advantage of any
bit of ground that promised them an opportunity of getting in on our
flank; several squadrons of Prussian Guards were seen advancing from
behind a wood, but they gave up their purpose upon a demonstration made
by a regiment of our hussars, who came up at a gallop, sweeping the
road. Thanks to the breathing-spell afforded them by this circumstance
the retreat went on in sufficiently good order, and Raucourt was not
far away, when a spectacle greeted their eyes that filled them with
consternation and completely demoralized the troops. Upon coming to a
cross-road they suddenly caught sight of a hurrying, straggling,
flying throng, wounded officers, soldiers without arms and
without organization, runaway teams from the train, all--men and
animals--mingled in wildest confusion, wild with panic. It was the wreck
of one of the brigades of the 1st division, which had been sent that
morning to escort the train to Mouzon; there had been an unfortunate
misconception of orders, and this brigade and a portion of the wagons
had taken a wrong road and reached Varniforet, near Beaumont, at the
very time when the 5th corps was being driven back in disorder. Taken
unawares, overborne by the flank attack of an enemy superior in numbers,
they had fled; and bleeding, with haggard faces, crazed with fear, were
now returning to spread consternation among their comrades; it was as if
they had been wafted thither on the breath of the battle that had been
raging incessantly since noon.

Alarm and anxiety possessed everyone, from highest to lowest, as the
column poured through Raucourt in wild stampede. Should they turn to the
left, toward Autrecourt, and attempt to pass the Meuse at Villers, as
had been previously decided? The general hesitated, fearing to encounter
difficulties in crossing there, even if the bridge were not already
in possession of the Prussians; he finally decided to keep straight
on through the defile of Harancourt and thus reach Remilly before
nightfall. First Mouzon, then Villers, and last Remilly; they were still
pressing on northward, with the tramp of the uhlans on the road behind
them. There remained scant four miles for them to accomplish, but it was
five o'clock, and the men were sinking with fatigue. They had been under
arms