The Somme 1870-71: The Winter Campaign in Picardy

by Quintin Barry

Overview

After the battle of Sedan on September 1, 1870 and the collapse of the Second Empire, followed by the investment of Paris, the Government of National Defense set about raising fresh armies. These had as their first objective the relief of the capital. The German troops covering the investment were stretched extremely thin until the fall of Metz at the end of October 1870. This released the forces around the city to move north and west to deal with the newly-forming French armies. The German Campaign in the northeast of France was conducted by the First Army led by General Edwin von Manteuffel. Opposing him was the French Army of the North, initially commanded for a short time by General Charles Bourbaki. He was soon replaced by General Louis Faidherbe, who was sent far from Africa.

The Campaign was fought to a large extent over the area of the Somme battlefields of the First World War, and the names of the towns and villages are grimly familiar with the resonance of what was to come. In 1914-1918 the direction of the fighting was on an east - west axis; in 1870 - 1871 it was north-south, with the line of the Somme being crucial to the outcome of the Campaign. The first major battle was the battle of Amiens on November 24; fought before Faidherbe's arrival, the Army of the North was led by the Chief of Staff, General Farre. It resulted in a German victory and the capture of Amiens.

In December, Faidherbe advanced and took up a strong defensive position along the line of the River Hallue, where a fierce battle was fought on December 23. After the French retreat, Faidherbe regrouped, and advanced again, this time on Bapaume. Another fierce encounter followed on January 3, at the end of which each side believed itself to be defeated. Faidherbe was thwarted in his objective to lift the Siege of Péronne, which fell on January 9. By now the situation at Paris was desperate, and on January 15 Faidherbe began a march eastwards with a view to compelling the movement of part of the investing armies to meet his advance. This resulted in the crucial battle of Saint Quentin on January 19, in which the Germans were now led by the redoubtable General August von Goeben, who won a final and decisive victory.

The Author draws on a wide range of rare contemporary sources to describe the Campaign, which was fought in appalling weather conditions. The book is copiously illustrated, with specially drawn color battle maps to demonstrate the course of the Campaign, and also includes extensive orders of battle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911096160
Publisher:	Helion and Company
Publication date:	06/15/2016
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Quintin Barry is a solicitor and retired Employment Judge. He has also held a wide varirty of offices in both the public sectors, including the NHS and local radio. Following a lifelong interest in military and naval history, he is the author of a number of books in both fields. These include an acclaimed two volume history of the Franco Prussian War of 1870-1871; a history of the Austro Prussian War of 1866; and the first modern history of the Russo Turkish War of 1877-1878. He has also written a number of books of naval history, including a well reviewed account of the war in the North Sea in 1914-1918.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

List of Colour Maps & Photographs xi

Acknowledgements xii

Preface xiii

1 The Army of the North 14

2 The advance of the First Army 25

3 The Battle of Amiens 38

4 La Fère 53

5 Rouen 65

6 The arrival of Faidherbe 75

7 The Battle of the Hallue 85

8 Retreat 104

9 The investment of Péronne 110

10 Bapaume 117

11 Goeben takes command 137

12 The fall of Péronne 143

13 Robert Le Diable 153

14 Faidherbe advances again 159

15 The plan to move east 163

16 The march begins 168

17 Terrry-Poueilly 175

18 The eve of battle 183

19 St Quentin: the southern sector 191

20 St Quentin: the western sector 200

21 St Quentin: victory on the left bank 207

22 St Quentin: the end of the battle 214

23 Aftermath 223

Appendices

I Order of Battle of the First Army, November 15 1870 230

II Distribution of the German forces for the Battle of St Quentin, January 19 1871 235

III Order of Battle of the Army of the North, mid-January 1871 239

IV Moltke's instructions to Manteuffel and Frederick Charles, December 17 1870 243

V The Chassepôt and the Needle Gun 245

VI Major Gamier explains himself to General Faidherbe, January 11 1871 247

VII Report of Colonel Degoutin of the 48th Regiment of the Mobiles du Nord, for January 18 1871 249

VIII Report of Commandant Hecquet, of the 20th Battalion of Chasseurs, for January 19 1871 251

IX Report of Lieutenant Belvalette, commanding the Battery Dupuich, for January 18 1871 253

X General Goeben's orders for the pursuit, January 20 1871 255

XI Order of the Day from the Commanding General after the Battle of St Quentin, January 21, 1871 256

Notes 257

Bibliography 268

Index 270

Editorial Reviews

"... a very useful and well balanced book which covers a neglected subject in detail. Armed with this book, one can follow the campaign on the ground, or stage a mini-campaign, using the wargames figures one already has for the 1870 campaign. Strongly recommended for anyone with a passing interest in the Franco-Prussian War."

Miniature Wargames with Battlegames - Chris Jarvis