BATTLE OF SEDAN Sept 1870 Donchery Balan Illy,1894 Antique Colour Map

HISTORICAL BATTLE MAP

The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War on September 1, 1870. It resulted in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III along with his army and practically decided the war in favour of Prussia and its allies, though fighting continued under a new French government. The 120,000 strong French Army of Châlons, commanded by Marshal Patrice MacMahon and accompanied by the French emperor Napoleon III, was attempting to relieve the Siege of Metz, only to be caught by the Prussian Meuse Army and defeated at the Battle of Beaumont. The Meuse Army and the Prussian Third Army, commanded by Field-Marshal Helmuth von Moltke and accompanied by Prussian King Wilhelm I and Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck cornered MacMahon's army at Sedan, in a massive encirclement battle. Marshal MacMahon was wounded during the attacks and command passed to General Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot.The battle opened with the Army of Châlons, with 202 infantry battalions, 80 cavalry squadrons and 564 artillery guns, attacking the surrounding Prussian Third and Meuse Armies totaling 222 infantry battalions, 186 cavalry squadrons and 774 artillery guns. Napoleon had ordered MacMahon to break out of the encirclement, and the only point that seemed possible to use was the town of La Moncelle, whose flank was protected by a fortified town. The Prussians also picked La Moncelle as one point where they would mount their breakthrough, Prince George of Saxony and the Prussian XI Corps was assigned to the task, and General von der Tann ordered to attack Bazeilles on the right flank. This led to the opening engagement, where the French First Corps had barricaded the streets, and enlisted the aid of the population. Tann sent a brigade across pontoon bridges at 0400 hours, and encountered stiff resistance, holding only the southern end of the town. The combat drew new forces, as French Brigades from the First, Fifth and Twelfth Corp arrived. At 0800 the Prussian Eighth division arrived, and Tann decided that it was time for a decisive attack. He had not been able to bring artillery to bear from long range, and so committed his last brigade to storm the town, followed up by the artillery from the other side of the Meuse. The artillery reached the Bazeilles at 0900 hours. The fighting continued to spread to the south of the town, and the Eighth Division was sent to reinforce the Bavarians fighting at La Moncelle where they had attempted to mount a breakthrough of the French defense. Fighting began in earnest at 0600, and the wounded MacMahon had elevated General Auguste Ducrot to command, who received the news at 0700. Ducrot ordered the retreat that Moltke had expected, but was overruled almost immediately by General De Wimpffen, who threw his forces against the Saxons at La Moncelle. This led to a brief rally for the French, who drove back the artillery around La Moncelle and pressed the Bavarians and the Saxons. However, with the taking of Bazeilles, and the arrival of fresh waves of Prussian troops, the counter-attack began to collapse. But by 1100 hours, Prussian artillery took a toll on the French while more Prussian troops arrived on the battlefield. After an intense bombardment and Prussian attacks from the northwest and east, and Bavarian attacks from the southwest, the Army of Châlons was driven into the Bois de la Garenne and surrounded. The French cavalry, commanded by General Margueritte, launched three desperate attacks on the nearby village of Floing where the Prussian XI Corps was concentrated. Marguerite was killed leading the very first charge and the two additional charges led to nothing but heavy losses. By the end of the day, with no hope of breaking out, Napoleon III called off the attacks. The French lost over 17,000 men killed and wounded with 21,000 captured. The Prussians reported their losses at 2,320 killed, 5,980 wounded and 700 captured or missing. By the next day, on 2 September, Napoleon III ordered the white flag to be run up and surrendered himself and the entire Army of Châlons to Moltke and the Prussian King. The capture of the French emperor left the Prussians without an opposing government willing to make a quick peace. Indeed, two days after news hit Paris of Emperor Napoleon's III capture, the French Second Empire was overthrown in a bloodless revolution, leading to the creation of a new provisional government which would drag the war on for five more months in hopes of changing France's fortunes. But the defeat at Sedan and the capture of Napoleon III sealed the doom of France. With the Second Empire overthrown, Napoleon III was permitted to leave Prussian custody for exile in England, while, within a fortnight, the Prussian Meuse Army and the Third Army went on to besiege Paris.

1890s Wood Engraving, Antique Map

Approximate Overall Size: 6 X 9 1/2 inches

CONDITION: Book Plate Map - Excellent Condition.German Text. Beautiful with excellent detail. Text on Reverse Side