The Army of Châlons () 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 () 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.In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870–1871, tome 1, page 340.
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.In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2, pages 152 et 153 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.In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 1 pages 255 à 260 et tome 2, pages 150 à 152.
Chronology of operations
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.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. The ensemble represented 188000 fantassins, 36000 cavaliers and more than 810 pieces of artillery.In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2 page 169.
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.In La guerre de 1870, pages 38 et 39 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,La guerre franco-allemande, tome 2 page 251. the corps of de Failly was defeated and had to retreat on Sedan.
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.In La guerre de 1870, pages 39 et 40.
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.In Histoire de la guerre de 1870-71, page 61. 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 woundedIn Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2 page 305. 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.In La guerre de 1870, pages 42 et 43 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.Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2 page 360.
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:In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870-1871, tome 2, pages 166 et 167.
+ Army of Châlons Fantassins Cavaliers Artillery Mitrailleuses 1st Army Corps 84 22 5th Army Corps 61 18 7th Army Corps 78 18 12th Army Corps 150 18 Reserve cavalry - 14 - Reserve artillery - - 6 -
Commandement & état-major
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
The 1st Army Corps () 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 1st Brigade of général Moréno 18th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Bréger, 3 battalions) 96th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Bluem, 3 battalions) 13e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (Commandant Potier, 1 battalion) 2nd Brigade of général Postis du Houlbec 45th Infantry Regiment () (Lieutenant-colonel Germain, 3 battalions) 1st Regiment of Zouaves () (Colonel Barrachin, 3 Battalions) 3 Batteries of the 9th Artillery Regiment () (Lieutenant-colonel Lecoeuvre, 2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Company of the 1st Engineer Regiment ().
2nd Infantry Division The 2nd Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Pellé 1st Brigade of général Pelletier de Montmarie 50th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Ardoin, 3 Battalions) 74th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Theuvez, 3 Battalions) 16e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (Commandant d'Hugues, 1 Battalion) 2nd Brigade of général Gaudil 78th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Pellenc, 3 Battalions) 1st Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () (Colonel de Morandy, 3 Battalions) 1st Marching Regiment () (Colonel Lecomte, 3 Battalions) 3 Batteries of the 9th Artillery Regiment () (Lieutenant-colonel Cauvet, 2 batteries de 4 et 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Company of the 1st Engineer Regiment ().
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 36th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Beaudoin, 3 battalions) 2nd Zouaves Regiment () (Colonel Détrie, 3 battalions) 8e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (Commandant Viénot, 1 battalion) 2nd Brigade of général Lefebvre 48th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Rogier, 3 battalions) 2nd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () (Commandant Canale, 3 battalions) Battalion of Franc-Tireurs of Paris (commandant Robin, 1 battalion) 3 Batteries of the 12 Artillery Regiment () (Lieutenant-colonel Gheguillaume, 2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Company of the 1st Engineer Regiment ().
4th Infantry Division The 4th Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général de Lartigue 1st Brigade under the orders of général Fraboulet de Kerléadec 56th Infantry Regiment () (Lieutenant-colonel Billot, 3 Battalions) 3rd Zouaves Regiment () (Colonel Baucher, 3 battalions) 1er Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (Captain Briatte, 1 Battalion) 2nd Brigade under the orders of général Carrey de Bellemare 87th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Blot) 2nd Marching Regiment () (Lieutenant-colonel de Lenchey, 3 Battalions) 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Imperial Guard () (Colonel de Souancé) 3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () (Colonel Barrué, 3 Battalions) 3 Batteries of the 12th Artillery Regiment () (Lieutenant-colonel Lamande, 2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Company of the 1st Engineer Regiment ().
Cavalry Division The Cavalry Division of the 1st Army Corps was commanded by général Duhesme which was replaced on August 25 by général Michel 1st Brigade of général de Septeuil 3rd Hussards Regiment () (Colonel de Vieil, 4 Squadrons) 11e Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval () (Colonel d'Astugue, 4 squadrons) 2nd Brigade of général de Nansouty 2nd Regiment of Lancers () (Colonel de Landreville, 4 Squadrons) 6th Regiment of Lancers () (Colonel Tripart, 4 Squadrons) 10th Dragoon Regiment () (Colonel Perrot, 4 Squadrons) 3rd Brigade of général Michel 8th Cuirassiers Regiment () and 9th Cuirassiers Regiment () founded (Colonel Guiot de la Rochère, 4 Squadrons)
Reserve Artillery Artillery Reserve was under the orders of colonel Grouvel 2 Batteries of the 6th Artillery Regiment () 2 Batteries of the 9th Artillery Regiment () 4 Batteries of the 20e Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval() 2 Companies of the 1st Engineer Regiment ()
5th Army Corps
The 5th Army Corps () 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. 1st Brigade of général Saurin 11th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Jean-Pierre-Ferdinand de Behagle) 46th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Michel Henri Alfred Pichon) 4e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (Commandant Guillaume Hyacinthe Foncegrives) 2nd Brigade of général baron Jean Nicolas Charles Valric Nicolas 61st Infantry Regiment () (Colonel du François Marie Alfred Moulin) 86th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Auguste Florimond dit Alexis Berthe) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company.
2nd Infantry Division The 2nd infantry Division of the 5th Army Corps was under the orders of général de l'Abadie d'Aydren. 1st Brigade of général Lapasset 84th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Claude Joseph Paul Benoit) 97th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Louis Henri Eugène Copmartin) 14e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (Commandant Planck) 2nd Brigade of général de Maussion 49th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Kampf) 88th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Henri Jean Courty ) 2 Artillery Batteries (1 battery de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company.
3rd Infantry Division The 3rd Infantry Division of the 5th Army Corps was under the orders of général Guyot de Lespart 1st Brigade of général Abatucci 17th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Weissemburger) 27th Infantry Regiment () (Colonel Ernest Ézéchiel Marie-Bon de Barolet)