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Army of the Rhine (1870)

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Armée du Rhin (Army of the Rhine)
Commander of the Army, Maréchal Bazaine
Active1870
Country France
AllegianceSecond French Empire
BranchFrench Army
EngagementsFranco-Prussian War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Maréchal de France Bazaine

The Army of the Rhine (French: Armée du Rhin) 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

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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 (French: La Garde Impériale), 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:[1]

Strength of the Army of the Rhine
Date[2] Officers Men Horses Battalions Squadrons Batteries Cie Engineer
Imperial Guard July 30 1,047 21,028 7,304 24 30 12 3
1st Army Corps August 1 1,651 40,165 8,143 52 26 20 5,5
2nd Army Corps August 1 1,172 27,956 5,016 39 18 13 4
3rd Army Corps August 6 1,704 41,574 9,810 52 31 20 5,5
4th Army Corps August 13 1,208 27,702 5,536 39 18 15 4
5th Army Corps August 1 1,174 20,243 5,527 52 31 20 5,5
6th Army Corps August 1 1,474 33,946 5,534 - - - -
7th Army Corps August 1 1,043 23,142 5,396 - - - -
Cavalry Reserve August 1 464 6,360 6,321 - - - -
Artillery Reserve August 9 87 2,675 2,725 - - - -
Engineer Reserve - 13 459 196 - - - 4

Composition and order of battle

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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:[3]

Commandement and état-major

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Napoleon III, first commander-in-chief of the Army of the Rhin.

The Imperial Guard

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Général Bourbaki, commander of the Imperial Guard.
1st Infantry Division (voltigeurs)

The 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard (French: La Garde Impériale) was commanded by général Deligny [fr]

Detachment of the grenadiers of the Imperial Guard at Rezonville (painting of Édouard Detaille - 1870).
2nd Infantry Division (Grenadiers)

The 2nd Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard was commanded by général Picard [fr]

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
    • Guides Regiment [fr] (French: Régiment de guides) (colonel Frédéric de Percin Northumberland)
    • Chasseurs Regiment (French: Régiment de chasseurs) (colonel Antoine Louis Claude de Montarby)
  • 2nd Brigade of général Jean Alexandre Ernest de France
    • Lancers Regiment (French: Régiment de lanciers) (colonel Henri Jean-Baptiste de Latheulade)
    • Dragoon Regiment of the Empress (French: Régiment de dragons de l'Impératrice) (colonel Simon Antoine Eugène Sautereau-Dupart)
  • 3rd Brigade of général du Preuil [fr]
    • Cuirassiers Regiment (French: Régiment de cuirassiers) (colonel Charles François Antoine Dupressoir)
    • Carabiniers Regiment of the Imperial Guard [fr] (French: Régiment de carabiniers de la Garde Impériale) (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

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Marshal de Mac Mahon, commander of the 1st Army Corps.

The 1st Army Corps [fr] (French: 1er Corps d'Armée) was commanded by Patrice de MacMahon, Duke of Magenta, with chef d'état-major général Colson [fr]. 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 général Wolff [fr]
  • 2nd Brigade of général Louis Jules de Postis du Houlbec
  • 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

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Raoult

4th Infantry Division

The 4th Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps was under the orders of général Marie-Hippolyte de Lartigue de Goueytes

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division of the 1st Army Corps was commanded by général Duhesme

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

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Général Frossard, commander of the 2nd Army Corps.

The 2nd Army Corps (French: 2e Corps d'Armée) 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

2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 2nd Army Corps was under the orders of général Bataille

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 2nd Army Corps was under the orders of général de Laveaucoupet

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division of the 2nd Army Corps was commanded by général Claude marie Hyacinthe Marmier

Reserve Artillery

Artillery Reserve was under the orders of colonel Beaudoin

  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 mounted
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted
  • Parc Artillery, Reserve and Parc Engineer

3rd Army Corps

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Marshal Bazaine, commander of the 3rd Army Corps.

The 3rd Army Corps (French: 3e Corps d'Armée) was commanded by Marshal Bazaine, with chef d'état-major général Claude Jules Isidore Manèque.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 3rd Army Corps was under the orders of Montaudon

2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 3rd Army Corps was under the orders of général de Castagny

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 3rd Army Corps was under the orders of général Jean-Louis Metman

4th Infantry Division

The 4th Infantry Division of the 3rd Army Corps was under the orders of général Decaen then Aymard

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division of the 3rd Army Corps was commanded by général comte Charles Philippe Marie Antoine de Clérembault

Reserve Artillery

Artillery Reserve was under the orders of colonel de Lajaille

  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 mounted
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted
  • Parc Artillery, Reserve and Parc Engineer

4th Army Corps

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Général Ladmirault, commander of the 4th Army Corps.

The 4th Army Corps (French: 4e Corps d'Armée) was commanded by général de Ladmirault, with chef d'état-major général Osmont.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 4th Army Corps was under the orders of général Courtot de Cissey

2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 4th Army Corps was under the orders of général Rose[5] then Grenier

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 4th Army Corps was under the orders of général Latrille comte de Lorencez

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division of the 4th Army Corps was commanded by général Legrand

Reserve Artillery

Artillery Reserve was under the orders of colonel Soleille

  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 mounted
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted
  • Parc Artillery, Reserve and Parc Engineer

5th Army Corps

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Général de Failly, commander of the 5th Army Corps.

The 5th Army Corps (French: 5e Corps d'Armée) was commanded by général de Failly, with chef d'état-major général Besson.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 5th Army Corps was under the orders of général Goze.

2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 5th Army Corps was under the orders of général de l'Abadie d'Aydren.

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 5th Army Corps was under the orders of général Guyot de Lespart

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division of the 5th Army Corps was commanded by général Brahaut

Reserve Artillery

Colonel de Salignac-Fénelon

  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 mounted
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted
  • Parc Artillery, Reserve and Parc Engineer

6th Army Corps

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Général de Canrobert, commander of the 6th Army Corps.

The 6th Army Corps was (French: 6e Corps d'Armée) was commanded by Marshal Certain de Canrobert, with chef d'état-major général Henry.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 6th Army Corps was under the orders of général Tixier

2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 6th Army Corps was under the orders of général Bisson[6]

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 6th Army Corps was under the orders of général Lafont de Villiers

4th Infantry Division

The 4th Infantry Division of the 6th Army Corps was under the orders of général Levassor-Sorval

Cavalry Division[9]

The Cavalry Division of the 6th Army Corps was commanded by général de Salignac-Fénelon

Cavalry Division

The Cavalry Division attached to the 6th Army Corps since August 18 in replacement of the division of Salignac-Fénelon, was commanded by général du Barail

Reserve Artillery
  • Artillery reserve under the orders of général Bertrand[10]
    • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12
    • 4 Artillery Batteries de 4 montées
    • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted
  • Parc d'artillerie, réserve et parc du génie

7th Army Corps

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Général Douay, commander of the 7th Army Corps.

The 7th Army Corps (French: 7e Corps d'Armée) was commanded by général Douay, with chef d'état-major général Renson.

1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the 7th Army Corps was under the orders of général Conseil-Dumesnil.

2nd Infantry Division

The 2nd Infantry Division of the 7th Army Corps was under the orders of général Liébert.

3rd Infantry Division

The 3rd Infantry Division of the 7th Army Corps was under the orders of général Dumont.

Cavalry Division
Général Ameil, commander of the cavalry division of the 7th Army Corps.

The Cavalry Division of the 7th Army Corps was commanded by général baron Ameil.

Reserve Artillery

Colonel Aubac

  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 12,
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 mounted,
  • 2 Artillery Batteries de 4 horse mounted.
  • Parc Artillery, Reserves and Parc Engineer.

Reserve Cavalry

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1st Cavalry Division [15]

The 1st Reserve Cavalry Division was commanded by général du Barail.

The 2nd Reserve Cavalry Division was commanded by général de Bonnemain.

2nd Cavalry Division
3rd Cavalry Division

The 3rd Reserve Cavalry Division was commanded by général de Forton.

Reserve Artillery and Engineer

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General Reserve Artillery

Commanded by général Canu.

  • 1st Division of colonel Salvador (8 Artillery Batteries de 12)
  • 1st Division of colonel Toussaint (8 Artillery Batteries horse mounted)
Grand parc de campagne

Commanded by général de Mitrecé.

General Reserve of Engineer

Commanded by colonel Rémond.

  • 2 Sapeurs Companies
  • 1 Mining Company
  • 1 Detachment of Sapeurs-Conducteurs
Grand parc du Génie

Chronology of operations

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References

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  1. ^ In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870–1871, Tome 1 pages 116–124.
  2. ^ The 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.
  3. ^ In Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870–1871, Tome 1, pages 395–405.
  4. ^ L'ouvrage indique Harmand Lucien Duez
  5. ^ général Etienne Hugues Rose was not able to join due to health challenges
  6. ^ the 14th, 20th, and 31st Line Infantry Regiments did not join and were integrated in the 12th Army Corps. The Division was accordingly reduced to the 9th line Infantry Regiment.
  7. ^ général de Marguenat was killed at Rezonville
  8. ^ Promoted général on September 26, colonel Gibon replaced général de Marguenat and was killed at Ladonchamps on October 7.
  9. ^ This division did not join the Army Corps and was replaced, on August 18, by the Division of général du Barail.
  10. ^ The artillery reserves and engineers of the 6th Corps were not able to join. The artillery reserve was reconstituted from the general reserves of the army.
  11. ^ Colonel Morand was promoted to général August 25 and replaced général Nicolaï, prisoner. He was killed at Beaumont on August 30.
  12. ^ Colonel de Gramont was promoted to général and replaced général Maire, killed during the battle of Frœschwiller.
  13. ^ 79th Infantry Regiment did not join initially and was replaced with the 72nd Infantry Regiment. Finally, the regiment was assigned to the 12th Army Corps.
  14. ^ The 2nd Brigade of the Cavalry Division of the 7th Army Corps did not join.
  15. ^ The 1st Cavalry Division (reserve) was dislocated before the blockade of Metz. The Margueritte Brigade was assigned to the Army of Châlons. Brigade Lajaille was assigned to the 6th Army Corps to constitute the respective Division Cavalry.

Sources and bibliography

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  • Lieutenant-colonel Rousset, Histoire générale de la guerre franco allemande - 1870–1871, éditions Montgredien et Cie, 1900.
  • Paul et Victor Margueritte, Histoire de la guerre de 1870–71, Éditions G. Chamerot, 1903.
  • Général Niox, La guerre de 1870 - Simple récit, Librairie Ch. Delagrave, 1898.
  • Annuaire militaire de l'empire français 1870
  • Ferdinand Lecomte : Relation historique et critique de la guerre franco-allemande en 1870–1871
  • Annuaire militaire de 1870 (pour les prénoms)
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