Those battalions of VII Corps which could still do good service, except five, which were kept in reserve, were again sent up the Mance valley, and the battalions from the Bois de Vaux came to their support toward Point-du-Jour and the quarries.  The IId Corps of the French Army thus attacked was now reinforced by Guard Voltigeur Division.  All the reserves were brought to the front.  The artillery was more rapidly served, and a destructive musketry fire was directed on the advancing enemy.  Then the French on their side made an attack.  A strong body of riflemen dispersed the smaller parties which were lying in the open, destitute of commanders, and drove them back to the wood.  There, however, their advance was checked, and there was still another Army Corps ready for action.

The IId Corps, the last to come up by rail to the seat of war, had up to this time followed in the wake of the army by forced marches, but had not yet fought in any engagement.  It had started from Point-a-Mousson at 2 p.m. and, taking the road by Buxieres and Rezonville, arrived south of Gravelotte in the evening.  The Pomeranians were eager to get at the enemy without delay.

It would have been better if the Chief of the Staff, who was personally on the field at the time, had not allowed this movement at so late an hour.  A body of troops, still completely intact, might have been of great value the next day; it was not likely this evening to affect the issue.

Rushing out of Gravelotte, the foremost battalions of the IId Corps pushed forward to the quarries, and up to within a few hundred paces of Point-du-Jour; but those following were soon entangled in the turmoil of the troops under fire south of St.-Hubert, and any further advance toward Moscow was arrested.  Darkness was falling, and friend became indistinguishable from foe.  So the firing was stopped; but not until ten o’clock did it entirely cease.

The advance of the IId Corps resulted in some good, however, for these fresh troops could occupy the fighting-line for the night, while the mixed companies of the VIIth and VIIIth Corps were enabled to re-form in their rear.

The whole course of the engagement had conclusively proved that the position of the French left wing, made almost impregnable by nature and art, could not be shaken even by the most devoted bravery and the greatest sacrifices.  Both parties were now facing each other in threatening proximity, and both fully able to reopen battle next morning.  The success of the day must depend on events at the other end of the French line.

The Prince of Wurtemburg, standing at Ail, believed that the hour had come for an attack on the French right at about a quarter-past five; but that wing extended much further north than the line of his Guards, further, indeed, than the French Commander-in-Chief himself was aware of.  Though the Saxons had participated in the capture of Ste.-Marie-aux-Chenes, the Crown Prince deemed it necessary to assemble his Corps at the Bois d’Auboue, to attack the enemy in flank.  One of the brigades had to come from Jarny, and one from Ste.-Marie; so, as the Corps was late in getting away from Mars-la-Tour, it was not expected to be on the field for some hours yet.