Английская Википедия:Army of Châlons

Материал из Онлайн справочника
Перейти к навигацииПерейти к поиску

Шаблон:Infobox military unit

The Army of Châlons (Шаблон:Lang-fr) was a French military formation that fought during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Formed in the camp of Châlons on August 17, 1870, from elements of the Army of the Rhine which the formation was issued from, the Army of Châlons was engaged in combats of Beaumont and Sedan while disappearing during the capitulation of September 2, 1870.

Creation of the army

Following the unfortunate adventures of the Army of the Rhine (Шаблон:Lang-fr) in the beginning of August at Wissembourg, Wörth, Forbach, Empress Eugénie designated régente, summoned the two chambers on August 9, 1870. Three days later, the Emperor decided to confine the command of the Army of the Rhine to Marshal Bazaine.[1]

On August 17, the Emperor was at Châlons and, during a reduced war council, the latter decided the nomination of Bazaine as généralissime of the French armed forces, of général Trochu as governor of Paris and de MacMahon as commander of the Army of Châlons.[2] Accordingly, this new army constituted of available elements, composed the 1st Corps, which joined the camp of Châlons between August 14 and 17, the 5th Corps of général Failly, the 7th Corps of général Douay, and the 12th Corps recently formed, constituted from infantry regiments still available, marching regiments formed by the 4 battalions left in the depot and regiments of the Guard. Accordingly, the four armed corps were assembled at Reims on August 20, 1870.[3]

Chronology of operations

Файл:Armée de Châlons - Marche sur Sedan.jpg
March on Sedan of the Army of Châlons

While Mac Mahon wished to retreat on Paris in order to reconstitute his army, consultations convinced him of rescuing Bazaine which unfolded on Metz following new engagements at Rezonville and Saint-Privat on August 16 and 18. Mac Mahon decided on August 23 to leave Reims and marched towards the north-east in order to pass Meuse between Sedan and Verdun.

While the four corps of Mac Mahon made way north-east, the German Army, strong of previous successes reorganized in two groups:

  • In front of Metz, the Ist Army, four corps of the IInd and one division.
  • Opposed to the Army of Châlons, the IIIrd Army, constituted of five corps, was associated to a new army, the Army of the Meuse or IV army, composed of three army corps and four cavalry divisions.[4] The ensemble represented 188000 fantassins, 36000 cavaliers and more than 810 pieces of artillery.[5]

The progression of the French Army was slow, and the latter was caught up by the German troops before reaching Meuse. On the 29, following a first confrontation at Nouart with the XII Corps Saxon, the 5th corps of de Failly garrisoned at Beaumont. Around noon time, on August 30, the first shells hit the camp.[6] Three German armed corps engaged the troops of Beaumont: the I. Bayerischen Korps on the left, the IV. Armee-Korps (Prussian) at the center and the sächsisches XII. Armee-Corps to the right. Despite the resistance of the infantry and the relaunching of combats at Mouzon with the unfortunate heroic charge of the 5th Cuirassiers,[7] the corps of de Failly was defeated and had to retreat on Sedan. Шаблон:Main

The battle of Beaumont had for consequence the renunciation of Marshal Mac Mahon to come and rescue Bazaine at Metz. Contrary, he unfolded since August 30 the different corps on the cities of Bazeilles and Sedan.[8]

Файл:General von Wimpffen.jpg
Général Wimpffen, commander-in-chief of the Army of Châlons at Sedan.

On the 31st, the I. Bayerischen Korps of général Von der Tann confronted the 12th Corps while apprehending the pont de chemin de fer which was along Meuse south of Bazeilles.[9] The next day, on September 1, 1870, the IIIrd and IV German corps attacked the ensemble of the armies of Mac Mahon positioned in the two cities. The marshal was wounded[10] while searching to join the command of the 12th Corps, général Lebrun, attacked by the Ist Corps Bavarois at Bazeilles. First replaced by général Ducrot, the command of the army was replaced, under orders of the minister of war, to général Winpffen, recently named at the head of the 5th Army Corps. The German Army finished by encircling the ensemble of the army which unfolded on the citadelle in Sedan.[11] On the morning of September 2, the capitulation was in effect. This battle witnessed the disappearing of the Army of Châlons, which consisted the loss of 124.000 men for France.[12] Шаблон:Main

Composition and order of battle

On August 23, 1870, the Army of Châlons was constituted of four Army Corps along with artillery and cavalry reserves, consisting of 105.000 fantassins, 14.709 cavaliers, 393 pieces of artillery and 76 mitrailleuses. Lieutenant-colonel Rousset gave a, estimative decomposition by grand units:[13]

Army of Châlons
Fantassins Cavaliers Artillery Mitrailleuses
1st Army Corps 26 000 2500 84 22
5th Army Corps 18 000 1496 61 18
7th Army Corps 25 000 2400 78 18
12th Army Corps 36 000 4200 150 18
Reserve cavalry - 4113 14 -
Reserve artillery - - 6 -

Commandement & état-major

Файл:Jules Forgeot (1809-1877).JPG
Général Forgeot, commander of the artillery.
  • Commander-in-chief : Marshal Mac Mahon, duc de Magenta then général Wimpffen (Septembre 1)
  • Chef d'état-major général : général Faure
  • Commander of the Artillery : général Forgeot
  • Commander of the Engineers : général Dejean
  • Intendant général : intendant général Vigo-Roussillon

1st Army Corps

Файл:Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot.jpg
Général Ducrot, commander of the 1st Army Corps.

The 1st Army Corps (Шаблон:Lang-fr) was commanded by général Ducrot, with headquarter staff, colonel Robert. Général Ducrot, former regimental commander of the 1st Division, succeeded Marshal Mac Mahon which recently assumed the command of the Army of Châlons. Général Frigola commanded the artillery.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Wolff

2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Pellé

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général l'Héritier

  • 1st Infantry Brigade of général Carteret-Trécourt
  • 2nd Brigade of général Lefebvre
    • 48th Infantry Regiment (Шаблон:Lang-fr) (Colonel Rogier, 3 battalions)
    • 2nd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment (Шаблон:Lang-fr) (Commandant Canale, 3 battalions)
    • Battalion of Franc-Tireurs of Paris (commandant Robin, 1 battalion)
  • 3 Batteries of the 12 Artillery Regiment (Шаблон:Lang-fr) (Lieutenant-colonel Gheguillaume, 2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Company of the 1st Engineer Regiment (Шаблон:Lang-fr).
4th Infantry Division

The 4th Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général de Lartigue

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division of the 1st Army Corps was commanded by général Duhesme which was replaced on August 25 by général Michel

Reserve Artillery

5th Army Corps

Файл:General de Failly.jpg
Général de Failly, commander of the 5th Army Corps.

The 5th Army Corps (Шаблон:Lang-fr) was commanded by général de Failly, with headquarter staff général Besson.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 5th Army Corps was under the orders of général Goze.

2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd infantry Division of the 5th Army Corps was under the orders of général de l'Abadie d'Aydren.

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 5th Army Corps was under the orders of général Guyot de Lespart

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division of the 5th Army Corps was commanded by général Brahaut

Reserve Artillery

Colonel Adolphe Louis Émile Frédéric de Salignac-Fénelon

  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12,
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 mounted,
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted.

7th Army Corps

Файл:Douay-uniforme.jpg
Général Douay, commander of the 7th Army Corps.

The 7th Army Corps (Шаблон:Lang-fr) was commanded by général Douay, with headquarter staff général Renson.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 7th Army Corps was under the orders of général Conseil-Dumesnil

  • 1st Brigade of général Nicolaï
  • 2nd Brigade of général Maire
  • 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company.
2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 7th Army Corps was under the orders of général Liébert.

  • 1st Brigade of général Guiomar
  • 2nd Brigade of général de la Bastide
  • 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company.
3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 7th Army Corps was under the orders of général Dumont

  • 1st Brigade of général Bordas
  • 2nd Brigade of général Bittard des Portes
  • 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company.
Cavalry Division
Файл:Fontaine - Napoléon Ameil (1810-1886).jpg
Général Ameil, commander of the cavalry division of the 7th Army Corps.

The Cavalry Division of the 7th Army Corps was commanded by général baron Ameil

Reserve Artillery

Colonel Aubac

  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12,
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 mounted,
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted.

12th Army Corps

The 12th Army Corps (Шаблон:Lang-fr) was commanded by général Lebrun, with headquarter staff général Gresley.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 12th Army Corps was under the orders of général Grandchamp.

  • 1st Brigade of général Cambriels
  • 2nd Brigade of général de Villeneuve
  • 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company.
2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 12th Army Corps was under the orders of général Lagretelle.

  • 1st Brigade of général Marquisan
    • 2 Marching Chasseurs Company
    • 3rd Marching Regiment (lieutenant-colonel Bernier)
    • 4th Marching Regiment (lieutenant-Chauchard)
  • 2nd Brigade of général Louvent
  • 5 Artillery Batteries ( 3 batteries de 4, 1 de 12 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company
Файл:Elie de Vassoigne.jpg
Général de Vassoigne, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the 12th Army Corps.
3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 12th Army Corps was under the orders of général de Vassoigne.

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division of the 12th Army Corps was commanded by général Lichtlin

Cavalry Division of the 6th Corps

The Cavalry Division of the 6th Army Corps was commanded by général de Salignac-Fénelon'

Reserve Artillery
  • Artillery Reserve was under the orders of général Bertrand
    • 8 Artillery Batteries de 4 montées
    • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12 montées
    • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 (marine artillery)
    • 1 Artillery Battery de mitrailleuses (marine artillery) and 3 Engineer Companies

Reserve and Cavalry

1st Cavalry Division
Файл:General margueritte.jpg
Général Margueritte, commander of the 1st Cavalry Reserve Division.

The 1st Reserve Cavalry Division was commanded by général Margueritte

2nd Cavalry Division

The 2nd Reserve Cavalry Division was commanded by général de Bonnemain

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Sources and bibliography

  • Lieutenant-colonel Rousset, Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, éditions Montgredien et Cie, 1900.
  • Histoire de la guerre de 1870-71, Éditions G. Chamerot, 1903.
  • Général Niox, La guerre de 1870 - Simple récit, Librairie Ch. Delagrave, 1898.
  • Annuaire militaire de l'empire français 1870
  • Howard, Michael, The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France 1870–1871, New York: Routledge, 2001. Шаблон:ISBN.

  1. In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870–1871, tome 1, page 340.
  2. In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2, pages 152 et 153
  3. In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 1 pages 255 à 260 et tome 2, pages 150 à 152.
  4. La IIIe armée allemande est sous les ordre du Prince royal de Prusse. Elle comprend les Ier et IIe corps bavarois ainsi que les IVe, Ve et VIe corps. La IVe armée allemande est sous les ordre du Prince royal de Saxe. Elle comprend les XIIe et IVe corps et la Garde prussienne. In La guerre de 1870, pages 38 et 39.
  5. In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2 page 169.
  6. In La guerre de 1870, pages 38 et 39
  7. La guerre franco-allemande, tome 2 page 251.
  8. In La guerre de 1870, pages 39 et 40.
  9. In Histoire de la guerre de 1870-71, page 61.
  10. In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2 page 305.
  11. In La guerre de 1870, pages 42 et 43
  12. Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2 page 360.
  13. In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2, pages 166 et 167.