The battles of the 2nd, and 3rd, and 4th December
on the Loire, which resulted in the recapture of Orleans by the Germans, and the retirement of the greater part of the French army across the river, have not as yet been really described by any of our news- paper correspondents. Indeed, we have nothing but the tele- graphic reports. From these it would seem that, at least, five separate battles were fought on those days, two by Prince Frederick Charles against the French right, two by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg against the centre and left centre, and one by the former and latter combined before Orleans on Sunday, the 4th, which was followed by the capture of Orleans on Sunday night. The Germans claim 77 guns, the majority of them the heavy guns of the entrenched camp, but perhaps 20 of them field- pieces, and 10,000 prisoners. The French say they effected their retreat in perfect order, and IA no artillery trains. Undoubtedly it was a great defeat ;—but quite as undoubtedly by no means a rout.
