Army of the Loire

See also: Armed with the Loire (First Empire)

Formed army in October 1870 by Leon Gambetta, and War Minister of Interior Department of the Government of National defense, taken refuge with Turns, to continue, after the defeat of Sedan (on September 2nd), the war against the Germans.

This army is created starting from troops recalled of Algérie, soldiers of the deposits and reserves, which form the 15th army corps under the direction of the general of the Mound-Red.

Operations of November 1870 and October

October 10th, with Artenay (Loiret), it meets, without success, the Bavarian army of the general Von der Thann, who protects the seat from Paris by the south. It must give up Orleans, on October 11th. Leon Gambetta relieves the Mound-Red and entrusts the command to the general of Aurelle de Paladines which settles with Salbris, in the Sologne. The army is reinforced 16th body of the general Chanzy and 17th body of the Général of Sonis. It then gathers 70.000 men and 150 guns. She triumphs over Bavarian with Coulmiers (Loiret), on November 9th and takes again Orleans. But the Bavarian ones are reinforced by the quotas of the prince Frederic-Charles, made available by the capitulation of the marshal Bazaine to Metz (October 27th).

Gambetta reinforces the army of the Loire by the 18th army corps of the Billot general and the 20th body of the Crouzat general. Those are beaten with Beaune-the-Rolande (Loiret), on November 28th by the Prussians and are folded up on Orleans. 1st and on December 2nd, 16th and 17th bodies are victorious with Villepion, Terminiers and Pourpry (Eure-et-Loir) but beaten with Loigny (Eure-et-Loir). Orleans is taken by the Germans on December 4th.

Reorganization of December 5th, 1870

After the defeat of Loigny and the reoccupying of Orleans by the Germans on December 4th, the Armée with the Loire is separate in two groups. Gambetta decides to reorganize its troops in two armies. The general of Aurelle de Paladines is isolated.

15th, 18th and 20th Bodies are gathered to constitute the Armée with the East, whose command is entrusted to the general Bourbaki, installed with Gien and Salbris. It has the role of going to the help of Belfort which resists to the Germans.

16th and 17th Bodies, ordered by the general Chanzy installed with Beaugency, then become the Second army of the Loire.

The army of the Loire holds head with the Prussians with Josnes and Villarceaux December 7th and 8th, then with Fréteval and Castle-of-Dormouse (the Sarthe) December 14th and 15th. Although reinforced by the 21e body of the general Jaurès, it loses the Bataille of Auvours in the south-west of the Mans January 11th and 12th 1871. The engagements continue with Sillé-the-Guillaume (the Sarthe) on January 15th and with Saint-Mélaine on January 18th. The army then cuts off behind the Mayenne until the armistice from the January 28th 1871, signed by the provisional government.

March 14th, 1871, the Army of the Loire is dissolved.

Internal bonds

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