But he was not aware that up to that time the Germans had only brought about half their disposable forces into action, and that a large body of German troops was ready to advance on both wings, especially on the left. Excepting the artillery, only one infantry brigade of the 12th corps and the Prussian Guards had been in action at St. Marie, while the two reserve corps of the left wing were ready to be brought forward. The 7th and 8th corps on the left wing and the 16th infantry division and the 2d corps with parts of other divisions and brigades were ready to be brought into action whenever desired. In brief, it may be said that three corps had been in action, while there were five corps, including the Prussian Guards, which were practically fresh for the fight.
For five hours the battle had been steadily raging on the right of the Guards without any gain on one side or the other. The day was ending, and if the Germans were to secure a victory prompt action was necessary. Unless the battle could be made decisive before the sun went down, it was possible that the French army during the night would concentrate and occupy a still stronger position on the next day than they were occupying on the morning of the 18th. Prince Augustus, of Würtemburg, determined to send the Guards to the attack without waiting for the arrival of the Saxon corps, which had been marching to join him. Consequently, three brigades of the Guards were sent to assault the French position at St. Privat.
This position at St. Privat was a very strong one, and any commander of troops would be justified in hesitating to attack it. Close behind the crest of the hill the ground slopes quite steeply in the direction of Metz, while on the west side the slope is gradual and regular for a distance of two thousand paces, and offering no cover of any kind to an advancing force. Furthermore, all the houses of St. Privat had been loopholed, so that the place
