army. The effect was demoralizing, and the French soon began to retreat in disorder, abandoning their arms, tents, and equipage, and seeking safety inside the walls of Metz. But the darkness which prevented the advance of the Germans also made it impossible for Marshal Bazaine to send the Imperial Guard to drive back the assailants. The battle was over. As soon as night set in all advance of the Germans was suspended. They encamped on the field and cared for the wounded.
The loss of the Germans was very much greater than that of the French, as they had been throughout the day the attacking party. The German loss was given at 904 officers and 19,000 men, while that of the French was stated to be 809 officers and 11,000 men. On the German side 310 officers and 4,000 men were killed; among them were 22 field officers. One hundred and twelve of the slain officers belonged entirely to the corps of the Guards.
The fighting forces of the armies in the battle of Gravelotte were 211,000 Germans, of whom 146,000 were in the first line and 65,000 in the reserve. The French were estimated at 112,000 in strongly entrenched positions. The losses were, consequently, one eighth of the men in action for the French, and somewhat more than one seventh of the Germans.
The defeat of the French at Gravelotte caused Bazaine's army to retire within the fortifications of Metz, where it was besieged by a portion of the German forces, while the remainder, which comprised the greater part of the First and Second Armies, were free to pursue MacMahon, whose army was reorganizing at Chalons, reinforced by Failly's corps, a part of Felix Douay's, and a great body of reserves. Bazaine made several ineffectual attempts to break through the investing forces, and finally surrendered on the 27th of October, the surrender including 3 marshals, 66 generals, 6,000 officers, and 173,000 men. There were delivered up, as prizes of war, 400 pieces of artillery,
