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354 De Wimpffen assumed command and sent the troops back to their old positions. The attack on Bazeilles was vigorously pushed and as vigorously defended. Three times the Bavarians stormed it only to be beaten back; the Germans alleged that the inhabitants joined in the fighting, firing out of loopholed houses and from cellars, and perpetrating atrocious barbarities on the wounded Bavarians who were left behind after each repulse. The French denied the German allegations, and accused their opponents of wanton cruelty in mercilessly slaughtering all the inhabitants of the village who fell into their hands. After the war there was much controversy on the subject, the French declaring that of nearly 2,000 inhabitants scarcely 50 remained alive. In July, 1871, General Von der Tann officially declared that the number of deaths had been grossly exaggerated; he denied the cruelties charged against the Germans, and said there had been much provocation on the part of the inhabitants. Probably the truth lies between the extremes; this much is certain,—that Bazeilles was burned, but whether set on fire by shell or torch is not positively known. Driven out by the flames, the French retired from the village, but continued their resistance in the neighboring fields and gardens and on the contiguous hills. By 10 Bazeilles was destroyed.

The vanguard of the 12th German corps engaged the 12th French corps at La Moncelle, farther on to the right. A little past six o'clock, the principal part of the corps piled its knapsacks on the ground, leaving them in charge of a guard, by whom they were subsequently placed in wagons, and then marched up the high road from Douzay. They left the road, turning at La Rulle to the right, and a little past seven o'clock came in at the position assigned them. The French did not seem to be in force at La Moncelle, and consequently there was not much opposition to the advancing Germans. The latter fortified the