Army of Chlons

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Arme de Chlons (1870)
Macmahon.jpg
Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Marshal Mac Mahon
Active 1870
Country France
Allegiance Second French Empire
Branch French Army
Type All arms
Size
120,000

1st Army Corps

5th Army Corps
7th Army Corps
12th Army Corps
Engagements
Franco-Prussian War

Battle of Beaumont
Battle of Sedan
Commanders
Notable
commanders Marchal Mac Mahon
The Army de Chlons (French Arme de Chlons (1870)) was a French military unit
that fought during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Formed in the camp of Chlons
on August 17, 1870 from elements of the Army of the Rhin (1870) (French Arme du
Rhin (1870)) which the unit was issued from, the Army of Chlons was engaged in
combats of Beaumont and Sedan while disappearing during the capitulation of
September 2, 1870.

Contents [hide]
1 Creation of the unit
2 Chronology of operations
3 Composition and order of battle
3.1 Commandement & tat-major
3.2 1st Army Corps
3.3 5th Army Corps
3.4 7th Army Corps
3.5 12th Army Corps
3.6 Reserve and Cavalry
4 References
5 Sources and bibliography
Creation of the unit[edit]
Following the unfortunate adventures of the Army of the Rhin (1870) (French Arme
du Rhin (1870)) in the beginning of August at Wissembourg, Wrth, Forbach, Empress
Eugnie designated rgente , summoned the two chambers on August 9, 1870. Three
days later, the Emperor decided to confine the commandement of the Army of the Rhin
to marshal Bazaine.[1]

On August 17, the Emperor was at Chlons and, during a reduced war council, the
latter decided the nomination of Bazaine as gnralissime of the French armed
forces, of gnral Trochu as governor of Paris and de Mac Mahon as commander of the
Army of Chlons.[2] Accordingly, this new army constituted of available elements,
composed the 1st Corps, which joined the camp of Chlons between August 14 and 17,
the 5th Corps of gnral Failly, the 7th Corps of gnral 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[edit]

March on Sedan of the Army of Chlons

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 Chlons, 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 cavlary 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 Ist corps bavarois on the left, the
IV corps prussien at the center and the XXI corps saxon 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.

Main article Battle of Beaumont

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]

Gnral Wimpffen, commander-in-chief of the Army of Chlons at Sedan.

On the 31st, the Ist Corps Bavarois of gnral 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 positionned in the two cities. The
marshal was wounded[10] while searching to join the command of the 12th Corps,
gnral Lebrun, attacked by the Ist Corps Bavarois at Bazeilles. First replaced by
gnral Ducrot, the command of the army was replaced, under orders of the minister
of war, to gnral 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 witnissed the disappearing of the Army of Chlons, which
consisted the loss of 124000 men for France.[12]

Main article Battle of Bazeilles

Composition and order of battle[edit]
On August 23, 1870, the Army of Chlons was constituted of four Army Corps along
with artillery and cavalry reserves, consisting of 105000 fantassins, 14709
cavaliers, 393 pieces of artillery and 76 mitrailleuses. Lieutenant-colonel Rousset
gave a, estimative decomposition by grand units[13]

Army of Chlons
Fantassins Cavaliers Artillery Mitrailleuses
1st Army Corps 26,000 2,500 84 22
5th Army Corps 18,000 1,496 61 18
7th Army Corps 25,000 2,400 78 18
12th Army Corps 36,000 4,200 150 18
Reserve cavalry - 4,113 14 -
Reserve artillery - - 6 -