noon
Thanks to the breathing-spell afforded them by this circumstance the retreat went on in sufficiently good order , and Raucourt was not far away , when a spectacle greeted their eyes that filled them with consternation and completely demoralized the troops . Upon coming to a cross-road they suddenly caught sight of a hurrying , straggling , flying throng , wounded officers , soldiers without arms and without organization , runaway teams from the train , all -- men and animals -- mingled in wildest confusion , wild with panic . It was the wreck of one of the brigades of the 1st division , which had been sent that morning to escort the train to Mouzon ; there had been an unfortunate misconception of orders , and this brigade and a portion of the wagons had taken a wrong road and reached Varniforet , near Beaumont , at the very time when the 5th corps was being driven back in disorder . Taken unawares , overborne by the flank attack of an enemy superior in numbers , they had fled ; and bleeding , with haggard faces , crazed with fear , were now returning to spread consternation among their comrades ; it was as if they had been wafted thither on the breath of the battle that had been raging incessantly since noon . Alarm and anxiety possessed everyone , from highest to lowest , as the column poured through Raucourt in wild stampede . Should they turn to the left , toward Autrecourt , and attempt to pass the Meuse at Villers , as had been previously decided ? The general hesitated , fearing to encounter difficulties in crossing there , even if the bridge were not already in possession of the Prussians ; he finally decided to keep straight on through the defile of Harancourt and thus reach Remilly before nightfall .