Battle of Sedan 1870 Franco-Prussian War Emperor Napoleon III French government
Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War on 1 September 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 lift 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 guns, attacking the surrounding Prussian Third and Meuse Armies totaling 222 infantry battalions, 186 cavalry squadrons and 774 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 Baron 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 Corps arrived. At 0800 the Prussian 8th Infantry Division arrived, and Tann decided tha
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