Franco-Prussian War (1870) Glory & Defeat - Week by Week

French and German Armies in 1870 - Dreyse and Chassepot Rifle Overview I GLORY & DEFEAT Week 3

While the French and different German Armies are gathering we are taking the time this week to take a look at military organization and warfare in 1870. As a special guest we also have Cap And Ball on the show who introduces the famous Chassepot and Dreyse rifles which will be important in this conflict.

Battle of Colombey-Nouilly - Strasbourg Under Siege I GLORY & DEFEAT Week 5

After the opening battles of the Franco-Prussian War, the German armies have suffered heavy casualties but were also able to stop French plans in their tracks. Now the French are withdrawing towards Metz and the symbolic city of Strasbourg is under siege.



Siege of Marsal (August 13th to 14th 1870)

The Siege of Marsal was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War on August 13 to 14 between the French Empire and the combined German forces of Prussia and Bavaria in Marsal Under the command of Lieutenant General Jakob von Hartmann, after replacing the Prussian 4th Cavalry Division, II Corps of the Kingdom of Bavaria forced the surrender of the French Empire's defenses , after a brief resistance by the French troops stationed at the fortress. Marsal fell to the German army in the same period as the French fortresses of Lichtenberg, La Petite-Pierre and Vitry. With the quick victory of the Bavarian army at Marsal, the road from Dieuze to Nancy was open to the Germans. In addition, the siege also brought the Germans a lot of raw materials for the war,  as well as hundreds of prisoners (including some officers of the French army)

Battle of Borny–Colombey (August 14th 1870)

The Battle of Borny–Colombey or the Battle of Colombey-Nouilly took place on 14 August 1870 as part of the Franco–Prussian War. During the battle the escape route of the French army under François Bazaine was blocked when the French encountered the First Army under von Steinmetz. The outcome of the battle itself was indecisive as although the French were able to escape to Metz, they were delayed for 12 hours.

Like most of the early battles of the war, Borny was one that neither side had planned or wanted. For the French, the battle had dire consequences as they neglected to use their numerical superiority to force a passage and it delayed the Army's retreat out of Metz for twelve precious hours. This gave the Prussians the time to bring up their Second army under Prince Frederick Charles and assured that after the battles fought in the following days (Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte) France's premier army would be trapped at Metz.

Map: 1904 French map of the battle



Battle of Gravelotte (August 18th 1870)

The Battle of Gravelotte (or Battle of Gravelotte–St. Privat) on 18 August 1870 was the largest battle of the Franco-Prussian War. Named after Gravelotte, a village in Lorraine, it was fought about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Metz, where on the previous day, having intercepted the French army's retreat to the west at the Battle of Mars-La-Tour, the Prussians were now closing in to complete the destruction of the French forces.

The combined German forces under King Wilhelm I were the Prussian First and Second Armies of the North German Confederation with 210 infantry battalions, 133 cavalry squadrons, and 732 heavy cannons totaling 188,332 officers and men.  The French Army of the Rhine, commanded by Marshal François Achille Bazaine, dug in along high ground with their southern left flank at the town of Rozerieulles, and their northern right flank at St. Privat.

Painting: The "Rifle Battalion 9 from Lauenburg" at Gravelotte



On 18 August, the Prussian First Army under General Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz launched its VII and VIII Corps in repeated assaults against the French positions, backed by artillery and cavalry support. All attacks failed with enormous casualties in the face of French infantry and mitrailleuse firepower. The French did not counter-attack Steinmetz's weakened army. On the Prussian left, the Prussian Guards attacked the French position at St. Privat at 16:50 hours. With the support of the Prussian II and Saxon XII Corps of Prince Friedrich Karl's Second Army, the Guards conquered St. Privat by 20:00 hours after heavy losses, pushing back the French right wing.

Map: French and German forces at 14:45



Bazaine's Army of the Rhine withdrew into Metz fortress on the morning of 19 August. The German victory at Gravelotte ended Bazaine's army's last chance of retreating west to Verdun. After a siege lasting over two months, the Army of the Rhine surrendered on 27 October 1870.

Painting: The cemetery of Saint-Privat near Metz became a bloody battlefield [Battle of Gravelotte] on which 42,000 soldiers died. On 18 August 1870, the French troops, recognizable by their red trousers, fought there in the last moves against the Prussian army. The light, which penetrates through the battle smoke in the upper part of the picture, emphasizes the drama of the fight. Neuville points out that even defeat can be honorable. With the image he defends the republican patriotism and strengthens the French resolve. The painting, which was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1881, earned the artist the title of officer of the Legion of Honor

An Entire French Army Trapped in Metz During the Franco-Prussian War | GLORY & DEFEAT Week 7

The French Army of the Rhine under Marshal Bazaine is trapped inside Metz - along with civilians and wounded over 250,000 people will need to be fed from the city's dwindling supplies. Surrounding the city is a German Army that cannot force the Metz fortifications and opts for starving it into submission instead.

Why France Did Not Surrender After Sedan - Empress Eugénie Flees The Country | GLORY & DEFEAT Week 9

After the French defeat at Sedan, the German states expect peace negotiations. But instead the new French republic declares an early form of "total war" and continues the fight. Meanwhile Empress Eugénie flees the country for Britain.

How the Pope's Army Marched Against Prussia 1870 - Fall of Rome | GLORY & DEFEAT Week 11

While the Franco-Prussian War was raging in France, another armed conflict to the south was reaching its conclusion. The unification of Italy was not yet complete in the eyes of Italian nationalists because Rome and the Papal State still held out. After the defeat at Rome, the Papal Zouaves went on to France to fight the Prussian.



The Papal Zouaves

After the Capture of Rome by Victor Emmanuel in 1870, 760 French soldiers of the disbanded Papal Zouaves, led by Colonel de Charette, offered the French Government of National Defense their service. They were renamed as Légion de Volontaires de l’Ouest (Legion of the Volunteers of the West) and, by 7 October 1870, the contingent, composed of 64 officers, 1,620 men, 80 cavalry, 80 gunners, was organised into:

- three six-company battalions, plus three depot companies
- squadron of mounted éclaireurs
- mountain battery

While retaining their grey and red Papal uniforms, the Zouaves fought the Prussians and their other German allies outside Orléans, with 15 killed or wounded between 11 and 12 October 1870, and also engaged the enemy at Patay. Expanded to two battalions totalling about 1,800 men,[23] the new force with its experienced core of former Papal Zouaves fought with distinction at the Battle of Loigny where the 2nd Battalion charged with the bayonet, losing 216 out of 300 men (18 officers and 198 men) while covering the retreating and shattered 16th Corps. The Volontaires were armed with Chassepots and Remingtons. The unit was disbanded after the entrance of Prussian troops into Paris.

Drawing: Ex-Papal Zouaves fighting under their distinct banner in France, 1870

Rise of Guerrilla Warfare & Daring Balloon Escapes | GLORY & DEFEAT Week 13

In early October 1870, the German states are still confident the Franco-Prussian War is as good as over. But two events might cross their plans: One of the leaders of the new French Republic, Leon Gambetta, escapes the Siege of Paris in a hot-air balloon to coordinate the French Armies outside of Paris. And in Ablis, French guerrilla fighters, the so called Franc-Tireurs, ambush a German patrol in their sleep - with swift German retribution.



Siege of Paris - Battle of Chevilly (September 30th 1870)

The Battle of Chevilly was fought during the siege of Paris. The battle was the second French sortie from Paris against the German armies. On 30 September 1870 General Joseph Vinoy attacked the Prussian VI Corps at Chevilly and was easily repulsed.

The Prussian VI Corps commanded by General Von Trumpling repulsed an attempt by the French army from Paris led by General Joseph Vinoy; The French army in the battle suffered greater losses than the Prussian army.

General Vinoy - who commanded a corps includes all regular forces finally of France during the war , has conducted an "attack reconnaissance" nonsense on the left bank of the Seine on September 30, 1870: with Twenty thousand men, under the cannons of the fortresses of Bicêtre and Ivry, he proceeded to raid the villages of L'Hay, Chevilly and Thiaïs. The Prussian VI Corps had no difficulty crushing and forcing Vinoy's forces to flee in chaos. Due to large losses, the French requested a ceasefire for burial martyrs and sending wounded soldiers to the rear.

Battle of Nompatelize (October 6th 1870)

The Battle of Nompatelize, also known as the Battle of Etival, was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War on October 6, 1870, between Etival and Nompatelize in the province of Vosges from Strasbourg 64 km southwest. This battle marked the first major crackdown of franc-tireur operations in the Vosges region by the XIV Corps of the Prussians by Minister August von Werder in early October 1870. In matches fiercely this, A force of the Army of Rhône of the French Republic under the command of General Louis-François Dupré, who predominated to markedly document in terms of troop numbers, and attacked 6 infantry batallions of the Grand Duchy of Baden under the command of General Alfred von Degenfeld which were part of the XIV Corps, but were defeated. Compared to the casualties of the German military, the losses of the French side in this battle were much greater (of which nearly 600 officers and soldiers were taken prisoner). After seven hours of fighting, the French were forced to flee in turmoil to Bruyeres and the Rambervillers. The Battle of Etival contributed to General Werder wiping out the French from Alsace.

The Battle

General of the Infantry Werder along with Baron Kolmar von der Goltz of Germany, after the Battle of Strasbourg at September 1870 , was marching westward. Werder's first task was to wipe out the French Franc-tireur guerrillas from the Vosges range , and on October 1, a German vertical formation – with several battalions , squads and battalions. Cavalry and battery - commanded by Major General Degenfeld began the march through the Vosges. Through the passes, German soldiers met, but only two small skirmishes took place on 4 and 5 October 1870, in which the French were all defeated. On the 5th of October, General Degenfeld received orders from Strasbourg that his formation would be the vanguard of the newly formed XIV Army, commanded by General Werder, which had begun the march to Épinal. On October 6, Degenfeld decided to capture Saint-Dié-des-Vosges and began flooding the Meurthe River. On his left flank, however, his forces were fiercely attacked by the French from many sides, and so he had to give up his intention to capture Saint-Die to meet the enemy army. Most of the French troops participating in the battle were Garde Mobile and were part of the vanguard of the main army of the Army of the Rhine , under the command of General Dupré. According to a report to the Grand Duke of Baden after this battle, the Battle of Nompatelize lasted from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. that day. Documents of Prussian Army Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Elder. It is reported that the French army was much stronger than the weak German vertical formation, although other accounts indicate that the numbers of the two sides were equal. The forces involved in the German battle consisted of the 3rd Regiment , the 1st Musket Battalion of the 1st Grenade Regiment , the Grenade Launcher Battalion of the 6th Regiment, 2 cavalry teams of the Dragon Cavalry Regiment. Guard troops , along with the Möbel and Kunz artillery batteries.

The Germans attacked the enemy with bayonets, and captured the villages in French hands: St. Rémy, Nompatelize and the Bois des Jumelles. All three fierce attacks of the French army were broken by the Germans. Dupré himself was seriously wounded in the fighting, and the German artillery proved its strength. Crushed and crushed, the French army had to rush to flee. However, when night fell, Degenfeld did not pursue the pursuit because his forces were exhausted. During the 7th of October, the German general remained stationed south of Etival, in support of the XIV Corps' vertical formations, which were advancing down the Meurthe Valley. On the same day, several forces of the Reconnaissance Corps of the French Guard also captured Saint-Die. The defeat of the Army of the Rhine under General Albert Cambriels in the Battle of Nompatelize severely damaged their morale. Within a few days, their troops reduced from 55,000 to 24,000 people , which causes mainly due to desertions. On October 22 , they were again crushed by German forces at the Battle of Ognon. The victories this contributed to demonstrate the superior strength of the German reserve forces and the Landwehr system against the hastily trained fledgling armies of the French Third Republic.

Map: Map of the Battle of Nompatelize



Battle of Bellevue (October 7th 1870)

The Battle of Bellevue on 7 October 1870 was fought during the Franco-Prussian War and ended in a Prussian victory.

The French forces under Marshal François Achille Bazaine attempted to break through the lines of the Prussians investing Metz. They were unsuccessful and were driven back into the city with a loss of 1,257 soldiers and 64 officers. The Prussians lost 1,703 soldiers and 75 officers.

Drawing: "The Prussian Landwehr on October 7, 1870 in front of Metz. Drawn for the gazebo by Otto Fikentscher"



Siege of Paris - Battle of Sceaux (October 13th 1870)

The Battle of Sceaux was a battle in the Franco-Prussian War, which took place on October 13, 1870.In this battle, the German army under the command of General Jakob von Hartmann repelled the French army 's siege when Paris was under German siege causing the French army heavy losses. Several other French breakthroughs in late 1870 were also broken by the Germans.

The Battle

Two weeks after being repulsed at the Battle of Chevilly , French general Joseph Vinoy again conducted an expedition south of Paris. After a heavy artillery bombardment from the forts to the south, Vinoy sent three vertical formations towards the Clamart heights. General Von Hartmann of Germany implemented a strategy to let the enemy go too far, so that his army would surround the enemy and push them into the range of German artillery and infantry. At the beginning of the attack, the French defeated the outposts of the II corps from Châtillon and Sceaux. However, the German army had already positioned its reserve force behind the fortress of Montrouge, which would be used once the French had captured the heights at Châtillon and the Bavarian artillery positions. After a battle that lasted for about 6 hours (including the participation of the 8th and then 7th Bavarian brigade ), the German crossfire forced the French to run away.  As during the French defeat at Châtillon, the French artillery on Mount Valérien made it difficult for the Bavarians to counterattack.

Photo: Saint-Cloud from German bombardment after the Battle of Châtillon



Battle of Artenay (October 10th 1870)

The Battle of Artenay' also known as the Battle of Arthenay, is a battle in the Franco-Prussian War, was held on October 10, 1870, in Artenay a small town located on the road from Orléans to Paris, France which was about 10 miles north of the city of Orléans.In this fierce battle, with superior strength compared to the opponent, The I Corps of the Kingdom of Bavaria, under the command of Lieutenant General Ludwig von der Tann-Rathsamhausen, in collaboration with the 22nd Division of the XI Corps of the Kingdom of Prussia and the two cavalry divisions of the Prussian army attacked and penetrated the defense system of the army of the Loire of the young French Republic, under the control of general Joseph Edouard de la Motterouge, causing heavy losses for the French military of which many people were taken prisoner. The winning conditions Artenay were favorable enough for Von der Tann to stike Orléans, while the forces of France knocked back on Orléans forest in an agitated state. Despite this, Nièvre's Garde Mobiles and the Pontifical Legion in the French army were noted for their strong resistance, while a monk in Prussian Cavalry under the command of Prince Albrecht demonstrated his prowess in the battle at Artenay.

The Battle

When General von der Tann was ordered to launch an offensive campaign against Orléans, he marched on October 9, 1870, to the vicinity of St. Péravy and encountered no significant resistance (instead it was flimsy and languid resistance), and on the 10th of October, he marched on Artenay. The Prussian 4th Cavalry Division covered the right flank, while the 2nd Cavalry Division under Lieutenant General Count zu Stolberg remained close to Pithivier. Meanwhile, General de la Motto-Rouge, informed of the German advance, drew a small force to Artenay. As a result, the vanguard forces of both sides clashed not far north of their common objective. The French Chasseurs de Vincennes were taken by surprise, and they held out until the Prussian cavalry was reinforced by infantry and formed a strong front forcing the French to retreat to Bas-le-Roy. General Regau commanded a French division that responded, increasing the number of French troops. The Prussians at that time were already in a favorable defensive position, and the French made several massive attacks on this position several times. But the guns of the Germans demonstrated their power and the French were driven back to the Trinay plain. The Prussian Armored Cavalry pursued the enemy, but had to retreat as the French regrouped. There was fierce artillery fire between Regau's battery and the Prussian artillery in the middle of St. Germain-le-Gramal and Trinay, and later the French were reinforced. They again attempted to attack the Prussian lines, but failed. Soon, while the Germans attacked fiercely with firepower that terrified the French, a strong German cavalry force encircled the French right flank with La Motto-Rouge's legion disintegrated, and had to flee. The German cavalry also obtained a number of artillery pieces.

The railway station was destroyed by Prussian artillery. Following the Prussian-Bavarian victory at Artenay, the First Battle of Orléans broke out the next day on October 11, 1870.By mid-day, Von der Tann's army had smashed the French defenders and captured Orléans. Léon Gambetta demanded that La Motto-Rouge be brought before a military tribunal, but this was denied, General Louis d'Aurelle de Paladines was appointed commander of the Legion of Loire.

Map: Map of the Battle Plans



Siege of Paris - Battle of Châtillon (October 13th 1870)

The Battle of Châtillon, also known as the Battle of Châtillon-sous-Bagneux, was a skirmish in the Siege of Paris between France and North German Confederation in the Franco-Prussian War,took place on October 13, 1870. This is also considered the first battle in the history of the French Third Republic. In this fierce battle – occurred at Châtillon and Sceaux, Corps V of the Prussian army under the command of Lieutenant General Infantry Hugo von Kirchbach, along with the II Corps of the Kingdom of Bavaria by the Supreme Minister infantry Jakob von Hartmann which were the forces of the army Group 3 of Prussia by Prince Friedrich Wilhelm as General command, won a victory against an attack by the XIV Corps under General Renault - of the French army under General Auguste-Alexandre Ducrot. Although some soldiers under Ducrot fought well, the majority of his army became agitated. The French were forced to flee to Paris, losing the Châtillon Plateau - a very favorable defensive position overlooking the fortresses south of Paris - to the Germans. This was a disaster for the "justice" of the French army during the war, although the French reported that they suffered only minor losses.

The Battle of Sedan between the German and French armies on September 1 – 2, 1870 ended with the defeat of the Second French Empire. The victory in Sedan opened the way for the Germans to enter Paris, and on September 4 , an uprising in Paris overthrew the Empire and led to the establishment of the Government of National Defense. Meanwhile, under the orders of Chief of the General Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Great , the German 3rd and Maas armies set out to attack Paris five days after the great victory at Sedan. Until September 19, the Prussian V Army commanded by General Von Kirchbach marched in two vertical formations to the Palace of Versailles . The French were determined to keep control of the important points in front of the capital's fortifications and in view of the Prussian presence in the Châtillon plateau, French general Ducrot launching a breakout on the frontline of the V Corps: dawn on September 19, two divisions of infantry of Corps XIV of France had invaded Petit Bicêtre and Villacoublay. With strong artillery support , they drove out the German outposts (Division number 9 of Prussia), although the Germans initially defended successfully. However, although Hartmann's II Bavarian Army advanced in a different direction, their 1st Infantry Brigade was brought in to Bicêtre to support the Prussians. Simultaneously, Von Kirchbach ordered the Prussian 10th Division to respond shortly after their vanguard force reached the northeast of Villaconblay. A combined attack by the Bavarians with the Prussians still fighting at the Bois de Garenne repelled the French at Pavé blanc. Meanwhile, the French had formed their artillery, and three regiments attacked Petit Bicêtre and Bois de Garenne. Firepower of Prussian muskets defeated the French, and German shells forced the Zouaves soldiers of the Trivaux farm to flee to Paris. Part of the right flank of the French army had to flee frantically. The Prussian-Bayern coalition captured Pavé blanc, recaptured Dame Rose and stormed into the Meudon forest.

However, the rest of the French forces were concentrated around a small earthen fortress erected on the Châtillon plateau. Thereafter, Von Kirchbach led V Corps back to Versailles, handing the battle over to Bavaria's II Corps. While a Bavarian brigade was sent to Sceaux, the 8th Brigade of the 4th Bavarian Army was sent to Croix de Bernis, and the 7th Brigade advanced to Bourg. The German army increased its artillery, and after a day of fighting,Ducrot ordered the destruction of the cannons at the earthen fortifications and retreated to the rear of separate fortresses. Some soldiers of the Bavarian 3rd Division followed him through Sceaux and Plessis-Picquet, and captured his abandoned fortifications.. he battle demonstrated the power of the French artillery, but the German victory at the Battle of Châtillon created favorable conditions for the Bavarians to defeat all French attacks on the Chatillon Plateau. After this battle, the German army completed the Siege of Paris. The French army would conduct many more fierce breakout attempts, but they were all defeated by the Germans

French Guerrilla War & German Retaliation | GLORY & DEFEAT Week 15

The French increasing reliance on franc-tireurs, guerrilla style fighters, is causing brutal German retaliation and a spiral of violence in the fall phase of the Franco-Prussian War.



Battle of Ognon (October 22th 1870)

The Battle of Ognon was a battle in the Franco-Prussian War, which took place on October 22, 1870, at the Ognon River. In this battle, the Prussian 14th Army under the command of General Karl August von Werder which also consisted of a brigade of the Grand Duchy of Baden, attacked the Army of the Rhine of France was commanded by General Albert Cambriels. The Germans captured a large number of French prisoners . The victory of the Imperial German Army in the Battle in Ognon decided the fate of the Army of the Rhine, at least within two weeks thereafter.

Lieutenant General Infantry Werder along with Baron Kolmar von der Goltz of Germany, after the Siege of Strasbourg at September 1870, was marching westward. Werder's first task was to wipe out the French forces from the Vosges range, and on October 1, the advance of the German 14th Army, led by General Degenfeld, began marching through the Vosges. Through the passes, German soldiers did not have to fight, and the first major clash between the German and French armies took place on the western slopes of the mountain range, ending with Degenfeld's victory over the newly formed French "Eastern Army". As Cambriels was the commander of the Eastern Army who had made efforts to restructure his army, Werder believed that he must first face the enemy, before embarking on a series of adventures within France, contrary to the original order from the Chief of the General Staff of the Prussian Army, General Helmuth von Moltke.

Ordered to extend his campaigns to Besançon from Moltke, General Werder took Vesoul in late October 1870. Meanwhile, General Cambriels reorganized his forces and established a strong position at Kuoz and Etuz on the River Oignon, to prevent further advance of the German 14th Army. And, on October 22, 1870, his Army of the Rhône (with two divisions) suffered yet another defeat:[3] General Werder ordered General Beyer to drive away the Army of the Rhône and fight for it. This army must run into Besançon . Beyer commanded Degenfeld's brigade, along with part of Keller's brigade, andPrince Wilhelm of Baden and two battalions of the 30th Regiment, and were heavily outnumbered. Battalion Degenfeld midfield generals were at war with the French military before the brigade of infantry of the Keller and Prince William of Baden dragged to war response. The armies of both sides struggled for a long time, but in the end, Beyer's Army captured all of the enemy's positions, despite a rather late response from the Degenfeld Brigade. In the chaos, the French retreated across the river, and were forced to abandon the village of Auxon-dessus they had temporarily captured. Once again, Cambriels' army had to retreat to the walls of Besançon.

After the German victory, the 3rd German Rhine Infantry Regiment of the reserve forces pursued the enemy. The next day, German troops attacked positions at Châtillon-le-Duc, north of Besançon, which the Germans had held the day before. The attack failed, but it forced the Army of Rhine to withdraw. Despite this, the Prussian army withdrew from Besançon on the 24th of October 1870, before Werder defeated Giuseppe Garibaldi's French Army at Gray on October 27.

Battle of Gray (October 27th 1870)

The Battle of Gray (also called Battle of Zalmay), was a small battle in the Franco-Prussian War that occurred on 27 October 1870 (the same day as the surrender of French troops in the fortress of Metz) in the Haute-Saône department of France.

About

During the engagements at Essertenne and Zalmay near Gray, the brigade of Prince William of Baden was quickly defeated, by a force Garde Mobile was consigned to King's room of the Vingeanne stream of the Côte d' Or Army of the French army, under the command of Colonel Lavalle. This forced the French army to withdraw from Gray. As a result of the victory at Gray, German forces captured a large number of French prisoners from the war. Not long after, Lavalle was taken to a French military court.

On 22 October 1870, the German 14th Army (mostly Baden) under General Werder defeated the Army of the Rhône under General Cambries at the Battle of Ognon. Werder had to march through Dijon to Bourges according to the latest orders of Chief of the General Staff Helmuth von Moltke, a new enemy, the famous Italian general, appeared. Thus, the French army was being ruled under Giuseppe Garibaldi first, and his forces were ordered to march to the Gray railroad station. From there, they advanced down Dijon.

On 24 October 1870, Baden's 14th Army assembled at the town of Gray. In the days that followed, their units searched for French troops around Gray.

On 27 October 1870, German forces that had already crossed the Saône River performed a reconnaissance towards Dijon after encountering and repelling several Garde Mobile soldiers from the forests northwest of Gray. In this direction of the Vingeanne stream, the German army was already at war with the enemy at several points. Two regiments of soldiers firing muskets of the Regiment Baden 2, with 4-gate fireworks of the 3rd heavy battery, which had sailed from Autrey to face an attack by several hundred French Garde Mobile soldiers who had retreated from La Fahy and the Pomilly woods to Mornay and St. Seine L'Eglise. After a skirmish, the Garde Mobile were driven out with the loss of their handheld equipment, and 60 prisoners fell to the Germans.

Further down the area, there were several isolated French outposts. The stronger troops, stationed at the junction of Mirabeau and Pontailler-Sur-Saône, retreated from Essertenne and the bush to the west after a minor skirmish with the 2nd battalion of the Baden Guards Regiment. As the army continued through the bush, some German soldiers gained access to the entire military wing, which was not supported by a vertical lineup Garde Mobile marching from Talmay to L'Eglise Renève. The French were driven back to Vingeanne and Talmay. At Talmay, another German company surrounded all 15 French officers and 430 soldiers. Later, General Werder ordered General Gustav von Beyer to conduct further reconnaissance towards Dijon