"The Second Company, and that part of the First which had split off northwards, had advanced from the hedge on the St. Marcel road and, mixed in with elements of the 16th Regiment, had along with part of von Hohenhausen’s [company] reached the opposite slope. In so doing, Second Lieutenant Langheinecken was severely wounded. Not far from the hedge at the southern edge of the ravine, Lieutenant-Colonel von Roëll found a hero’s death with a bullet in the chest. In him the Regiment lost an able and experienced officer, highly thought of by all who knew him well and possessed of excellent military judgement.
In von Bernewitz’s half-battalion, the few remaining officers gave the sign to Advance. All rose up and rushed forward, with Sergeant Draeger, holding high the standard of the First Battalion, in the lead. The companies had however not yet reached the ravine when they met the retreating advanced line of the Regiment.
The part of von Warendorff’s company in Tronville Wood, along with the newly-arrived riflemen of the 3rd Pioneer Company, were also sent forwards, but only got about 250 m beyond the edge of the wood before retiring back into it as a result of the enemy counter-attack.
Companies 9 and 11 of the Fusilier Battalion had reached the high ground by the poplars and from here began firing. Captain Bethge, already bleeding from several wounds, rushed them forward once again, but then they received the order to retire. Their gallant commander received multiple wounds, some serious, in the advance, and fell; Second Lieutenant Weinhagen found a hero’s death with a bullet in the head.
Following the blow it had received whilst deploying, Tuebben’s half-battalion, despite its heavy losses, had advanced further with a part of its left wing, inspired by the example of its First Lieutenant Ehrhardt, who shortly, however, fell mortally wounded. The order to retire then brought the advance to an end; slowly, the remains of the two companies fell back.
The activities just described caused further losses amongst the officers, as in addition to those already named, Second Lieutenants Hoenig, von Arnim, Baron von Schimman, Duke Finck of Finckenstein, Hunaeus and von der Mülbe, Staff Sergeants Löffler, Wagner and Wilhelm, and Ensigns Dittmar – mortally – and Flügge, were wounded.
Whilst the companies were, as described above, partly approaching the edge of the ravine, partly having reached it and hurrying down the steep slope to the bottom, the French launched a fast and overwhelming counter-attack from the northern edge which, owing to the thick gunsmoke, could not be observed until the enemy was about 150 – and in places only 50 – paces off.
Cissan’s division was moving against the front and the right wing of the Regiment, whilst on the left, the 57th Line Regiment, plus elements of the 13th Line Regiment and the 5th Chasseur Battalion, were advancing against the 16th Regiment and its [our?] left flank. There were no fresh troops to counter the enemy’s stroke, which met with only a single, thin line of riflemen, which was brought to a halt by the massed firing, and finally, slowly, fell back under vigorous flanking fire.
When an enemy has fourfold superiority and a far better position, not even the highest self-sacrifice and the most reckless advance can conquer: one must go back! With all formation lost, the remains of the Regiment turned back over that same bare land over which they had just gallantly advanced, enduring once again the devastating fire of the enemy. Despite the almost superhuman effort, and despite their exhaustion, only 27 of the Regiment were captured unwounded: Staff Sergeant Lindenberg, who whilst in the ravine had not noticed the others retiring, and 2 NCOs and 24 men of various companies.
With loud shouts, continual trumpet calls and irregular fire, the French pushed on with their counter-attack. Only now and then could individual kepis be seen above the thick gunsmoke, which rolled down the ravine to reappear south of it, following the remains of the Regiment.
As the enemy was hot on our heels, losses during the retirement were heavy, and the Regiment would have been totally destroyed had not the infantry been saved by the self-sacrifice of the cavalry.
[The French attack was broken up by a charge of the 1st Guards Dragoon Regiment....] The remains of von Wedell’s brigade found time to gather at the roadside and then, on the commanding General’s order, to go back to Tronville, which they reached at about 6.30 in the evening. There they found the part of von Warendorff’s company which had made a stand in the northwest corner of Tronville Wood and had retreated along its western edge.
With tears in his eyes, Colonel von Cranach beheld the remains of his regiment, so proud just two hours ago, which had gone into battle with 31 officers and 1825 men but now possessed battalions of barely 100 men. “Children”, the commander addressed his men, “you have fought magnificently, I could kiss every one of you.” And it was true: every man had done his duty, with almost superhuman might.
The Regiment had lost heavily. 6 officers and 231 men had been killed, 19 and 424 respectively wounded, and 1 and 26 respectively were missing."
I have not told the wife yet... :-? 