Part 2 — FRENCH AND GERMAN ARMIES IN THE FIRST PERIOD OF THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.
Archibald Forbes translation
ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE FRENCH ARMIES.
ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE "ARMY OF THE RHINE."
Commander-in-Chief: The Emperor Napoleon III. Major-General: Marshal Le Bœuf. Aide-Major-General: General Dejean. Chiefs of Staff: Generals Jarras and Lebrun. Commanding Artillery: General Soleille. Commanding Engineer: General Coffinières de Nordeck. Aides-de-camp to the Emperor: Generals Prince de la Moscawa, de Castlenau, Count Reille, Viscount Pajol.
The Imperial Guard.
General Bourbaki. Chief of Staff: General d'Auvergne. Commanding Artillery: General Pé-de-Arros.
1st Infantry Division: General Deligny.
1st Brigade: General Brincourt. Chasseurs of the Guard. 1st and 2nd Voltigeurs of the Guard. 2nd Brigade: General Garnier. 3rd and 4th Voltigeurs of the Guard. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General Picard.
1st Brigade: General Jeanningros. Zouaves of the Guard (two battalions). 1st Grenadiers of the Guard. 2nd Brigade: General Poitevin de la Croix. 2nd and 3rd Grenadiers of the Guard. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General Desvaux.
1st Brigade: General Halma du Frétay. Guides. Chasseurs of the Guard. 2nd Brigade: General de France. Lancers of the Guard. Dragoons of the Guard. 3rd Brigade: General du Preuil. Cuirassiers of the Guard. Carabiniers of the Guard.
Reserve Artillery: Colonel Clappier.
Four horse-artillery batteries.
1st Corps.
Marshal MacMahon, afterwards General Ducrot. Chief of Staff: General Colson. Commanding Artillery: General Forgeot.
1st Infantry Division: General Ducrot.
1st Brigade: General Moreno. 13th Chasseur battalion. 18th and 96th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Postis du Houlbec. 45th and 74th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder batteries and one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General Abel Douay, afterwards General Pellé.
1st Brigade: General Pelletier de Montmarie. 16th Chasseur battalion. 50th and 78th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Pellé. 1st regiment of Zouaves. 1st regiment of Turcos. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General Raoult.
1st Brigade: General L'Heriller. 8th Chasseur battalion. 2nd Zouave regiment. 36th Line regiment. 2nd Brigade: General Lefèvre. 2nd regiment of Turcos. 48th Line regiment. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
4th Infantry Division: General de Lartigue.
1st Brigade: General Frabonlet de Kerléadec. 1st battalion of Chasseurs. 3rd Zouave regiment. 56th Line regiment.
2nd Brigade: General Lacretelle. 3rd regiment of Turcos. 87th Line regiment. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General Duhesme.
1st Brigade: General de Septeuil. 3rd Hussar regiment. 11th Chasseur regiment. 2nd Brigade: General de Nansouty. 2nd and 6th Lancer regiments. 10th Dragoon regiment. 3rd Brigade: General Michel. 8th and 9th Cuirassier regiments.
Reserve Artillery: Colonel de Vassart.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Four horse-artillery batteries.
2nd Corps.
General Frossard. Chief of Staff: General Saget. Commanding Artillery: General Gagneux.
1st Infantry Division: General Verge.
1st Brigade: General Letellier-Valazé. 3rd battalion of Chasseurs. 32nd and 55th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Jobivet. 76th and 77th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General Bataille.
1st Brigade: General Pouget. 12th battalion of Chasseurs. 8th and 23rd Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Fauvart-Bastoul. 66th and 67th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General Laveaucoupet.
1st Brigade: General Doens. 10th battalion of Chasseurs. 2nd and 63rd Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Michelet. 24th and 40th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General Lichtlin.
1st Brigade: General de Valabrèque. 4th and 5th regiments of Chasseurs.
2nd Brigade: General Bachelier. 7th and 12th regiments of Dragoons.
Reserve-Artillery: Colonel Baudouin.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Two mitrailleuse batteries.
3rd Corps.
Marshal Bazaine, afterwards General Decaen. Chief of Staff: General Manèque. Commanding Artillery: General de Rochebouet.
1st Infantry Division: General Montaudon.
1st Brigade: General Aymard. 18th Chasseur battalion. 51st and 62nd Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Clinchant. 81st and 95th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General de Castagny.
1st Brigade: General Cambriels. 15th Chasseur battalion. 19th and 41st Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Duplessis. 69th and 90th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General Metman.
1st Brigade: General de Potier. 7th Chasseur battalion. 7th and 29th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Arnaudeau. 59th and 71st Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
4th Infantry Division: General Decaen.
1st Brigade: General de Brauer. 11th Chasseur battalion. 44th and 60th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Sanglé-Ferrières. 80th and 85th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General de Clérembault.
1st Brigade: General de Bruchard. 2nd, 3rd, and 10th Chasseur regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Maubranches. 2nd and 4th Dragoon regiments. 3rd Brigade: General de Juniac. 5th and 8th Dragoon regiments.
Reserve Artillery: Colonel de Lajaille.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Four horse-artillery batteries.
4th Corps.
General de Ladmirault. Chief of Staff: General Desaint de Martille. Commanding Artillery: General Laffaile.
1st Infantry Division: General de Cissey.
1st Brigade: General Count Brayer. 20th Chasseur battalion. 1st and 6th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Golberg. 57th and 73rd Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General Rose.
1st Brigade: General Bellecourt. 5th Chasseur battalion. 13th and 43rd Line Regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Pradier. 64th and 98th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General de Lorencez.
1st Brigade: General Pajol. 2nd Chasseur battalion. 15th and 33rd Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Berger. 54th and 65th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General Legrand.
1st Brigade: General de Montaigu. 2nd and 7th Hussar regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Gondrecourt. 3rd and 11th Dragoon regiments.
Reserve-Artillery: Colonel Soleille.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Two horse-artillery batteries.
5th Corps.
General de Failly. Chief of Staff: General Besson. Commanding Artillery: General Liédot.
1st Infantry Division: General Goze.
1st Brigade: General Grenier. 4th Chasseur battalion. 11th and 46th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Nicolas. 61st and 86th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General de l'Abadie d'Aydroin.
1st Brigade: General Lapasset. 14th Chasseur battalion. 49th and 84th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Maussion. 88th and 97th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General Guyot de Lespart.
1st Brigade: General Abbatucci. 19th Chasseur battalion. 17th and 27th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Fontanges de Couzan. 30th and 68th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General Brahaut.
1st Brigade: General Pierre de Bernis. 5th and 12th Chasseur regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de la Mortière. 3rd and 5th Lancer regiments. Division-Artillery. One battery of horse-artillery.
Reserve-Artillery: Colonel de Salignac-Fénelon.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Two horse-artillery batteries.
6th Corps.
Marshal Canrobert. Chief of Staff: General Henri. Commanding Artillery: General de Berkheim.
1st Infantry Division: General Tixier.
1st Brigade: General Péchot. 9th Chasseur battalion. 4th and 10th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Le Roy de Dais. 12th and 100th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General Bisson.
1st Brigade: General Noël. 9th and 14th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Maurice. 20th and 30th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General La Font de Villiers.
1st Brigade: General Becquet de Sonnay. 75th and 91st Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Colin. 93rd Line regiment. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
4th Infantry Division: General Levassor-Sorval.
1st Brigade: General de Marguenat. 25th and 26th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Chanaleilles. 28th and 70th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General de Salignac-Fénelon.
1st Brigade: General Tilliard. 1st Hussar regiment. 6th Chasseur regiment. 2nd Brigade: General Savaresse. 1st and 7th Lancer regiments. 3rd Brigade: General de Béville. 5th and 6th Cuirassier regiments. Division-Artillery. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
Reserve-Artillery: Colonel de Montluisant.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Four batteries of horse-artillery.
7th Corps.
General Félix Douay. Chief of Staff: General Renson. Commanding Artillery: General Liègard.
1st Infantry Division: General Conseil-Dumesnil.
1st Brigade: General Le Norman de Bretteville. 17th Chasseur battalion. 3rd and 21st Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Maire. 47th and 99th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
2nd Infantry Division: General Liébert.
1st Brigade: General Guiomar. 6th Chasseur battalion. 5th and 37th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de la Bastide. 53rd and 89th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General Dumont.
1st Brigade: General Bordas. 52nd and 72nd Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Bittard des Portes. 82nd and 83rd Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General Ameil.
1st Brigade: General Cambriel. 4th Hussar regiments. 4th and 8th Lancer regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Jolif du Coulombier. 6th Hussar regiment. 6th Dragoon regiment. Division-Artillery. One battery of horse-artillery.
Reserve Artillery.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Two batteries horse-artillery.
Reserve Cavalry.
1st Division: General du Barrail.
1st Brigade: General Margueritte. 1st and 3rd regiments Chasseurs d'Afrique. 2nd Brigade: General de Lajaille. 2nd and 4th regiments Chasseurs d'Afrique. Division-Artillery. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
2nd Division: General de Bonnemains.
1st Brigade: General Girard. 1st and 2nd Cuirassier regiments. 2nd Brigade: 3rd and 4th Cuirassier regiments. Division-Artillery. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
3rd Division: General Marquis de Forton.
1st Brigade: General Prince J. Murat. 1st and 9th Dragoon regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Grammont. 7th and 10th Cuirassier regiments. Division-Artillery. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
Great Artillery Reserve.
General Cann. Chief of Staff: Colonel Laffont de Ladébat. 13th Field-Artillery regiment. Eight 12-pounder batteries. 18th Field-Artillery regiment. Eight batteries of horse-artillery. Three mountain batteries.
Note.—The 6th Corps (Canrobert), when ordered to Metz from Châlons, left there three line regiments, its cavalry division, and reserve artillery.
The battle of Wörth divided the original Army of the Rhine into two parts, one of which is generally known as "The Army of Metz," and the other, with additions, became "The Army of Châlons." Their respective "Orders of Battle" follow:—
ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF CHÂLONS.
Commander-in-Chief: Marshal MacMahon, Duke of Magenta, afterwards General de Wimpfen. Chief of Staff: General Faure. Commanding Artillery: General Forgeot. Commanding Engineer: General Dejean. Intendant-General: Rousillon.
1st Corps.
General Ducrot. Chief of Staff: Colonel Robert. Commanding Artillery: General Frigola.
1st Infantry Division: General Wolff.
1st Brigade: General Moreno. 13th Chasseur battalion. 18th and 96th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Postis du Houlbec. 45th Line regiment. 1st Zouave regiment. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General Pellé.
1st Brigade: General Pelletier de Montmarie. 16th Chasseur battalion. 50th and 74th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Gandil. 78th Line regiment. 1st regiment of Turcos. 1st "marching" regiment. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General L'Heriller.
1st Brigade: General Carteret-Trécourt. 8th Chasseur battalion. 2nd Zouave regiment. 36th Line regiment. 2nd Brigade: General Lefébvre. 2nd regiment of Turcos. 48th Line regiment. 1st battalion of Franctireurs of Paris. Division-Artillery. Two 4 pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
4th Infantry Division: General de Lartigue.
1st Brigade: General Fraboulet de Kerléadec. 1st Chasseur battalion. 3rd regiment of Tirailleurs (Turcos). 56th Line regiment. 2nd Brigade: General de Bellemare. 3rd Zouave regiment. 2nd "marching" regiment. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General Duhesme; after August 25, General Michel.
1st Brigade: General de Septeuil. 3rd Hussar regiment. 11th Chasseur regiment. 2nd Brigade: General de Nansouty. 2nd and 6th Lancer regiments. 10th Dragoon regiment. 3rd Brigade: General Michel. 8th and 9th Cuirassier regiments.
Reserve Artillery: Colonel Grouvell.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Four batteries of horse-artillery.
5th Corps.
General de Failly. Chief of Staff: General Besson. Commanding Artillery: General Liédot.
1st Infantry Division: General Goze.
1st Brigade: General Grenier, later General Saurin. 4th Chasseur battalion. 11th and 46th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Baron Nicolas-Nicolas. 61st and 86th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General de l'Abadie d'Aydrein.
1st Brigade: General Lapasset. (With the army of Metz.) 2nd Brigade: General de Maussion. 88th and 97th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General Guyot de Lespart.
1st Brigade: General Abbatucci. 19th Chasseur battalion. 17th and 27th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Fontanges de Couzan. 30th and 68th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General Brahaut.
1st Brigade: General Viscount Pierre de Bernis. 5th and 6th Chasseur regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de la Mortière. 3rd and 5th Lancer regiments. Division-Artillery. One battery of horse-artillery.
Reserve Artillery: Colonel de Salignac-Fénelon.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
7th Corps.
General Félix Douay. Chief of Staff: General Renson. Commanding Artillery: General Liègard.
1st Infantry Division: General Conseil-Dumesnil.
1st Brigade: General Morand, afterwards General la Brettevillois. 17th Chasseur battalion. 3rd and 21st Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General St. Hilaire. 47th and 99th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
2nd Infantry Division: General Liébert.
1st Brigade: General Guiomar. 6th Chasseur battalion. 5th and 37th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de la Bastide. 53rd and 89th Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
3rd Infantry Division: General Dumont.
1st Brigade: General Bordas. 52nd and 72nd Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Bittard des Portes. 82nd and 83rd Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Brigade: General Ameil.
1st Brigade: General Cambriel. 4th Hussar regiment. 4th and 8th Lancer regiments. 2nd Brigade: General du Coulombier (appointed). Division-Artillery. One battery of horse-artillery.
Reserve-Artillery: Colonel Aubac.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
12th Corps.
General Lebrun. Chief of Staff: General Gresley. Commanding Artillery: General d'Ouvrier de Villegly.
1st Infantry Division: General Grandchamp.
1st Brigade: General Cambriels. 1 Chasseur marching battalion. 22nd and 34th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Villeneuve. 58th and 72nd Line regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
2nd Infantry Division: General Lacretelle.
1st Brigade: General Bernier Maligny. 14th, 20th, and 30th Line regiments. 2nd Brigade: General Marquisan. 3rd and 4th marching regiments. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
3rd Infantry Division: General de Vassoigne.
1st Brigade: General Reboul. 1st and 2nd regiments of marine infantry. 2nd Brigade: General Martin de Paillières. 3rd and 4th regiments of marine infantry. Division-Artillery. Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
Cavalry Division: General de Salignac-Fénelon.
1st Brigade: General Savaresse. 1st and 7th Lancer regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Béville. 5th and 6th Cuirassier regiments. 3rd Brigade: General Leforestier de Vendeune. 7th and 8th Chasseurs.
Reserve Artillery: Colonel Brisac.
Two 4-pounder batteries. Two 12-pounder batteries. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
Reserve Cavalry.
1st Reserve Cavalry Division: General Margueritte.
1st Brigade: General Tillard. 1st and 2nd Chasseurs regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Galiffet. 1st, 3rd and 4th Chasseurs d'Afrique. Division-Artillery. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
2nd Reserve Cavalry Division: General de Bonnemains.
1st Brigade: General Girard. 1st Hussar regiment. 47th Chasseur regiment. 2nd Brigade: General de Brauer. 2nd and 3rd Cuirassiers.
ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF METZ.
Commander-in-Chief: Marshal Bazaine. Chief of Staff: General Jarras. Commanding Artillery: General Soleille. Commanding Engineer: General Viala.
The Imperial Guard.
General Bourbaki (afterwards General Desvaux). Chief of Staff: General d'Auvergne. Commanding Artillery: General Pé-de-Arros.
(Detail as above.)
2nd Corps.
General Frossard.
(Detail as above with the exception of the 3rd Division (Laveaucoupet's) detached to garrison duty.)
3rd Corps.
General Decaen, afterwards Marshal Le Bœuf.
(Detail as above.)
4th Corps.
General de Ladmirault.
(Detail as above.)
6th Corps.
Marshal Canrobert.
(Detail as above, with the exception that the Corps when ordered up to Metz, left behind at Châlons three infantry regiments, its cavalry division, its reserve artillery, and division artillery of the 2nd Division.)
Lapasset's Brigade (from attached 5th Corps). General Lapasset. 14th Chasseur battalion. 49th and 84th Line regiments.
Reserve Cavalry.
1st Reserve Cavalry Division: General du Barrail.
1st Brigade: General Margueritte. (Vide Army of Châlons.) 2nd Brigade: General de Lajaille. 2nd Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique. (The 4th regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique remained at Châlons.) Division-Artillery. Two batteries of horse-artillery.
2nd Reserve Cavalry Division: General de Forton.
1st Brigade: General Prince J. Murat. 1st and 9th Dragoon regiments. 2nd Brigade: General de Grammont. 7th and 10th Cuirassier regiments.
Great Artillery Reserve.
(As above, less six batteries detached to the 6th Corps.)