The news from General Chanzy's head-quarters is always of retreat,
and he is supposed to be now near Laval, on the road to Rennes. It is quite evident that his army was not really strengthened, while its morale was injured, by the reinforcements he received at Le Mans, which appear to have consisted of Bretons either very discontented with K6ratry's removal, or for some other reason in bad discipline and bad humour. On the other hand, the German army opposed to him was at least double that with which he fought at Beaugency, and of equally good troops. It seems that Chanzy opposed to Prince Frederick Charles the beat troops he had, but to the Duke of Mecklenburg the raw and dis- contented levies, who were easily beaten. The Times' correspondent with Prince Frederick Charles speaks with much more respect of the troops opposed to that part of the army, than does the Times' correspondent with the Duke of Mecklenburg. To add to Chanzy's difficulties, he was himself so ill with bronchitis on the 10th and 11th that he had, to some extent, to delegate the com- mand, and judge of the situation through a council of war. It is clear that the Germans intended, if they could, to surround him, and repeat the feat of Sedan ; but for that trap he proved himself at least too good a commander. On the whole, however, the re- ports we receive of the conduct of his army do not justify the hopes formed of it in consequence of the splendid four days' fight at Beaugency.
