Battle of Spicheren

This account, penned by a noted British military historian of the late nineteenth century, remains one of the best narratives of a nineteenth century battle yet published. Henderson based this detailed and considered account of one of the opening battles of the Franco-Prussian War upon not only General Staff works and other official sources, but also many other accounts, including regimental histories. Also includes comprehensive maps.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of illustrations
• List of maps
• G.F.R. Henderson – his life, work and legacy: A new introduction by Duncan Rogers
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter I The mobilization and concentration of the armies
• Chapter II The characteristics of the armies
  • The infantry
  • The cavalry
  • The artillery
  • The Mitrailleuse
  • The staff
  • The term of service in 1870
• Chapter III The Combat of Saarbrucken
• Chapter IV The French dispositions from August 3rd to August 6th
• Chapter V The German advance to the frontier
  • The news of the action of Saarbrucken, and measures adopted in consequence
  • The First Army
  • The news of Saarbrucken, and measures proposed in consequence by von Steinmetz
  • The measures ordered by von Moltke
  • German movements on the 4th August
  • First Army
  • Second Army
  • The cavalry on 4th August
  • Movements of Second Army on the 5th August
• Chapter VI The Battle of Spicheren
  • Orders for Second Army – Morning of the 6th
  • Orders for First Army – Morning of the 6th
  • Advance of the First Army
  • Advance of the Second Army
    • Strength and distribution of the German Cavalry
    • Reconnaissances of the 5th & 6th Cavalry Divisions
  • The Battle, 10–11 a.m.
    • Action of the 14th Infantry Division
    • Occupation of the Saarbrucken Ridge by the Advanced Guard of the 14th Division
    • French dispositions
  • The French position
    • The interior of the plateau
  • The Valley
    • The advantages
    • The disadvantages
  • Distribution of the French troops
    • Defensive works
  • Advance of the 27th Brigade
  • The right attack – 12 noon–2.30 pm
  • The left attack – 12 noon to 2.30 pm
  • The central attack – 1.10 pm–2.30 pm
  • The state of the engagement at 2.30 pm
  • French troop movements
  • German troop movements – First Army
  • German troop movements – Second Army
  • The battle on the plateau – 2.30–3.30 pm
  • The battle in the Valley – 2.30–3.30 pm
• Chapter VII The Battle of Spicheren – continued
  • The battle on the plateau – 3.30–5 pm
  • The battle in the valley – 3.30–5
    • The centre
    • The right wing
    • Turning movement of the 28th Brigade
  • The battle on the plateau 5–6 pm
• Chapter VIII The Battle of Spicheren – continued
  • The battle in the valley – 5–7.30 pm
  • The battle on the plateau – after 6 o’clock
  • The battle in the valley after 7 o’clock
  • The turning movement of the 13th Division
  • Prussian outposts after the battle
  • The performance of the French high command
• Chapter IX The tactics of the battle
• Chapter X The training of the troops, and their tactical leading
• Appendix I
  • I.1 Strength of the Prussian forces at the Battle of Spicheren
  • I.2 Strength of the French forces at the Battle of Spicheren
  • I.3 Prussian losses
  • I.4 French losses
  • I.5 Numbers engaged
  • I.6 Percentage of loss
  • I.7 Note
• Appendix II German Order of Battle
  • French Order of Battle
• Appendix III Questions to be worked out by the reader
• Further reading
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