Page:Decisive Battles Since Waterloo.djvu/382



CHAPTER XIX.

BATTLE AND FALL OF SEDAN—1870. soon as possible Marshal MacMahon moved northward from Chalons with the evident intention of relieving Marshal Bazaine, but he was intercepted by the Germans, and after several engagements the French retreated beyond the Meuse, and massed at Sedan to make ready for battle. The emperor had joined MacMahon at Chalons, and accompanied him to Sedan, though he left the command of the army to the marshal. The Germans were between MacMahon and Bazaine, and as Bazaine was securely cooped up in Metz, the army of MacMahon was compelled to rely upon itself. The Germans greatly outnumbered the French, having about 240,000 men, while the latter mustered not much more than 150,000. The German plan was to double up the French line by swinging round upon it "left shoulder forward"; it was arranged at the Crown Prince's head-quarters, and like all other plans of the Germans, was kept a rigid secret until the movement began. According to the German calculations, it was believed that by making extraordinary efforts in marching, the French designs of relieving Bazaine at Metz might be completely overthrown by a concentration of the 5th and 11th Prussian corps with the Wurtemburgers and Bavarians. It was hardly thought that it would be possible for the 6th corps to swing in its great circle to the westward, and reach the battle-field in time to take any part in the 344