Army of the Rhine (1870)

The Army of the Rhine () was a French military unit that fought in the Franco-Prussian War. It was created after the declaration of war on July 18 1870.

The unit participated in combats in Lorraine, then divided to form a second army, the Army of Châlons.

The Army of the Rhine surrendered on 27 October at the Siege of Metz.

Creation of the unit The Army of the Rhine was the first French Army constituted after the declaration of war, formed from the available troops during peacetime. Initially commanded by the Emperor Napoleon III, the Army included the Imperial Guard (), 7 Army Corps and a general reserve. Each Army Corps was constituted of 3 or 4 infantry division and 1 cavalry division made up of 2 or 3 brigades each, one artillery reserve and one engineer reserve. Each brigade counted 2 or 3 line infantry or line cavalry regiments.

The infantry divisions included an artillery component with 2 batteries de canons de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuse, while the cavalry divisions constituted 2 batteries horse mounted.

Formation of the army corps:In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870–1871, Tome 1 pages 116–124.

The Imperial Guard of the Second Empire (), with commander, général Bourbaki, garrisoned in Paris in times of peace. The Imperial Guard reached Metz on July 28 and the Guard reserves on the 30. The (), commanded by Maréchal de France Patrice de Mac Mahon, Duc de Magenta was formed in principle by troops from Algeria and the regiments of Eastern France. This Army Corps activated on August 1, 1870. Its initial role was to cover the Alsace. The () was consisted of troops of the Camp de Châlons, commanded by Frossard, aide de camp of the Emperor. These units made their way to Saint-Avold and Forbach. The 3rd Army Corps () was formed by troops from Paris, Metz and Nancy. Commanded by Marshal François Achille Bazaine until August 12, then général Decaen killed at Borny (August 12 to 14) and finally commanded by Marshal Le Bœuf. The (), formed at Thionville on July 23 from the garrisons of the north and north-east, commanded by général de Ladmirault. The 5th Army Corps (), formed with the Army of Lyon, commanded by general de Failly. This Army Corps assembled in the regions of Bitche and Haguenau. The () of Marshal François Certain de Canrobert consisted of troops from Paris, Châlons, and Soissons and assembled at the camp de Châlons. The () had difficulty assembling due to its units being widely dispersed. Troops of the Army Corps hailed from the south-east, Clermont-Ferrand, Perpignan, Civitavecchia and had to make their way to Colmar and Belfort. This Army Corps was commanded by général Douay. The general Cavalry Reserve was supposed to be formed initially of 3 divisions with 2 brigades each. However, only 2 divisions were available as the 1st Division was employed to reinforce the Army of Châlons as the cavalry of the 6th Corps. The general Artillery Reserve, commanded by général Canu, formed at Nancy and made its way to Metz. The general Engineer Reserve was commanded by colonel Rémond.

+ Strength of the Army of the Rhine DateThe dates communicated in this column are the dates corresponding to the theoretical surveys of personnel. These values are in fact theoretical because not all the units were, on these dates, all gathered around their assigned corps. Officers Men Horses Battalions Squadrons Batteries Cie Engineer Imperial Guard July 30 24 30 12 3 1st Army Corps August 1 52 26 20 5,5 2nd Army Corps August 1 39 18 13 4 3rd Army Corps August 6 52 31 20 5,5 4th Army Corps August 13 39 18 15 4 5th Army Corps August 1 52 31 20 5,5 6th Army Corps August 1 - - - - 7th Army Corps August 1 - - - - Cavalry Reserve August 1 464 - - - - Artillery Reserve August 9 87 - - - - Engineer Reserve - 13 459 196 - - - 4

Composition and order of battle On August 1, 1870, the Army of the Rhine was constituted of seven Army Corps and of artillery and reserve cavalry. Lieutenant-colonel Rousset tendered an estimative decomposition by grand units:In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870–1871, Tome 1, pages 395–405.

Commandement and état-major

Commander-in-Chief : Napoléon III Major General : maréchal Le Bœuf Aides-major generals : général Lebrun général Hugues Louis Jarras Artillery Commander : général Marie Justin Lin Soleille (also known as général Justin Soleille) Engineer Commander : Intendant of the Army : Medical Chief of the Army :

The Imperial Guard

1st Infantry Division (voltigeurs) The 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard () was commanded by 1st Brigade of général Brincourt () () () () () (colonel Désiré Camille Jean Peychaud) 2nd Brigade of () (colonel Jules Pierre Joseph Lian) () (colonel Jean-Baptiste Xavier Bonaventure Ponsard) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

2nd Infantry Division (Grenadiers) The 2nd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard was commanded by 1st Brigade of général Jeanningros () (colonel Jean-Baptiste Joseph Giraud) () (colonel Georges Hippolyte Théologue) 2nd Brigade of () (colonel Lecointe) () (colonel Louis Cousin) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

Cavalry Division The Cavalry Division of the Imperial Guard was commanded by général Nicolas Gilles Toussaint Desvaux 1st Brigade of général Joseph Charles Halna du Frétay () (colonel Frédéric de Percin Northumberland) Chasseurs Regiment () (colonel Antoine Louis Claude de Montarby) 2nd Brigade of général Jean Alexandre Ernest de France Lancers Regiment () (colonel Henri Jean-Baptiste de Latheulade) Dragoon Regiment of the Empress () (colonel Simon Antoine Eugène Sautereau-Dupart) 3rd Brigade of Cuirassiers Regiment () (colonel Charles François Antoine Dupressoir) () (colonel Louis Jean Edmond Petit) 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted

Reserve Artillery (colonel Félix François Louis Clappier) 4 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted 1 Train equipped Squadron

Parc Artillery (colonel Elie Jean de Vassoigne)

Total artillery 24 Battalions, 24 Squadrons, 72 pieces out of which 12 mitrailleuses, 2 Engineer Companies, 1 Train Squadron

1st Army Corps

The () was commanded by Patrice de MacMahon, Duke of Magenta, with chef d'état-major . Général Ducrot, former commander of the 1st Division, succeeded Marshal Mac Mahon who recently assumed command of the Army of Châlons. Général Philippe Antoine Justin Joly Frigola commanded the artillery.

1st Infantry Division The 1st Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Ducrot 1st Brigade of () (colonel Alexis Evariste Appolinie Bréger) 96th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Ernest de Franchessin) () (commandant Alfred Jules Adrien Le Cacher de Bonneville) 2nd Brigade of général Louis Jules de Postis du Houlbec () (colonel René Ludovic Bertrand) () (colonel Simon Hubert Carteret-Trecourt) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

2nd Infantry Division The 2nd Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Douay 1st Brigade of général Pelletier de Montmarie 50th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Jules César Ardoin) 74th Infantry Regiment () (colonel François Adolphe Theuvez) 16e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (commandant Anne Louis François Armand d'Hugues) 2nd Brigade of général Pellé 78th Infantry Regiment () (colonel de Bellemare ) 1st Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () (colonel Jacques Louis de Morandy) 1st Marching Regiment () (colonel Lecomte, 3 Battalions) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

3rd Infantry Division The 3rd Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Raoult 1st Brigade of général Edmond Aimable L'Hériller 36th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Louis Eugène Krien) 2nd Zouaves Regiment () (colonel Détrie) 8e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (commandant André Léon Poyet) 2nd Brigade of général Henri Louis Nicolas Lefebvre 48th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Louis Adolphe Rogier) 2nd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () (colonel Pierre François Jean Raphaël Suzzoni) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

4th Infantry Division The 4th Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Marie-Hippolyte de Lartigue de Goueytes 1st Brigade under the orders of général Joseph Henri Fortuné Fraboulet de Kerléadec 56th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Jean-Louis Ména) 3rd Zouaves Regiment () (colonel Louis Alfred Bocher) 1er Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (commandant François Achille Bureau) 2nd Brigade under the orders of général Lacretelle 87th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Omer Arsène André Blot) 3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () (colonel Fabien Pierre Edmond Gandil) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

Cavalry Division The Cavalry Division of the 1st Army Corps was commanded by général Duhesme 1st Brigade of général de Achille Armand de Laroche-Tourteau de Septeuil 3rd Hussards Regiment () (colonel de Vieil) 11e Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval () (colonel Élisabeth Jean Hyacinthe Dominique Dastugue) 2nd Brigade of général de Nansouty 2nd Lancers Regiment () (colonel Charles Marie Poissonnier) 6th Lancers Regiment () (colonel Joseph Élie Tripart) 10th Dragoon Regiment () (colonel Félix Théodule Perrot) 3rd Brigade of général Alexandre Ernest Michel 8th Cuirassiers Regiment () (colonel Guiot de la Rochère) 9th Cuirassiers Regiment () (colonel Aimé Louis Waternau)

Reserve Artillery Artillery Reserve was under the orders of colonel Jean Louis de Vassart d'Andernay 2 Artillery Batteries de 12 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 mounted 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted Parc Artillery, Reserve and Parc Engineer

2nd Army Corps

The 2nd Army Corps () was commanded by général Frossard, with chef d'état-major général Eugène Saget.

1st Infantry Division The 1st Infantry Division of the 2nd Army Corps was under the orders of général Vergé 1st Brigade of général Letellier-Valazé 32nd Infantry Regiment () (colonel Hilarion Adrien Léonard Frédéric Merle) 55th Infantry Regiment () (colonel de Waldner de Freundstein) 3e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (commandant Claude Thoma) 2nd Brigade of Charles Jean Jolivet 76th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Pierre François Alphonse Brice) 77th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Février) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

2nd Infantry Division The 2nd Infantry Division of the 2nd Army Corps was under the orders of général Bataille 1st Brigade of général Gaspard Émile Pierre Balthazard Pouget 8th Infantry Regiment () (colonel François Auguste Florimond Haca) 23rd Infantry Regiment () (colonel Charles Élie Rolland) 12e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (commandant Louis Édouard Jouanne-Beaulieu) 2nd Brigade of général Jacques Alexandre Jules Fauvart-Bastoul 66th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Charles François Ameller) 67th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Mangin) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

3rd Infantry Division The 3rd Infantry Division of the 2nd Army Corps was under the orders of général de Laveaucoupet 1st Brigade of général Augustin Alexis Doëns 2nd Infantry Regiment () (colonel Saint-Hillier) 63rd Infantry Regiment () (colonel Louis Adolphe Zentz) 10e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied () (commandant Schenk) 2nd Brigade of général Charles Micheler 24th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Charles Louis Auguste d'Arguesse) 40th Infantry Regiment () (colonel Jean-Baptiste Vittot) 3 Artillery Batteries (2 batteries de 4 and 1 de mitrailleuses) and 1 Engineer Company

Cavalry Division