But it did not take the French troops long to move into the position assigned to them.  The independent action of a single Corps naturally exposed it not only to the fire of the troops opposite, but to an attack in flank.

To obtain some shelter on the field, the Prussian batteries had taken up a position on the shoulder of the hill below Amanvillers facing the southeast, where they were exposed from the north, on the flank, and even in the rear to the fire of French artillery, as well as to the concentrated fire of their infantry.

To meet this, the battalions nearest at hand were ordered forward.  They took possession of the eastern point of the Bois de la Cusse on the left, and on the right seized the farmhouses of L’Envie and Chantrenne, forcing their way into the Bois des Genivaux.  Thus the line of battle of the 18th Division gained a front of 4,000 paces.

Its losses were very great, for the French with their long-range Chassepot rifles could afford to keep out of range of the needle-gun; the artillery especially suffered severely.  One of the batteries had already lost forty-five gunners when it was attacked by French sharpshooters.  There was no infantry at hand to retaliate, and two guns were lost.  By two o’clock all the batteries were almost hors-de-combat, and no relief arrived till the Hessian Division reached Habonville, and brought up five batteries on either side of the railway, thus diverting on themselves the concentrated fire of the enemy.  The batteries of the 18th Division, which had suffered most, could now be withdrawn in succession, but even in their retreat they had to defend themselves against their pursuers by grapeshot.

The artillery of the IIId Corps and the Guards were likewise sent to the assistance of the IXth, and those of the damaged guns which were still fit for service were at once brought into line.  Thus a front of 130 guns was drawn up before Verneville as far as St.-Ail, and its fire soon told upon the enemy.  Now, when the IIId Corps was approaching Verneville and the 3d Brigade of Guards had reached Habonville, there was no fear that the French would break through the line.

The main force of the Guards had arrived at St.-Ail as early as two o’clock.  General von Pape at once saw that by wheeling to the east he would not encounter the right wing of the French, which was to be out-flanked, but would expose his own left wing to the forces occupying Ste.-Marie-aux-Chenes.  The first thing to be done was to gain possession of this village—­almost a town.  It was strongly occupied and well flanked by the main position of the French army; but, in obedience to superior orders, he must await the arrival of a cooeperative Saxon contingent.

The advance guard of this Corps had already reached the vicinity of Batilly, but was yet half a mile distant from Ste.-Marie, so its batteries could not be placed in position west of the town until three o’clock.  But, as the Guards had sent most of their own artillery to the support of the IXth Corps, this was substantial aid.