"Franco-Prussian War Book(s) and On-Line Data Review" Topic

The 1911 Edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica remarked that "The literature of the [Franco-Prussian] war is ever increasing in volume." This is still true.
My good friend – and fellow attorney -- David Raybin asked me to post this suggestion on books on the Franco-Prussian War which has seen a significant resurgence in War-game circles of late.
Geoffrey Wawro,The Franco-Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870-1871
link
is first-rate and deserves to be the first book on your list once you get a nice-fast overview from online sources such as Wikipedia.
Howard's 1961 somewhat similarly named book The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France 1870-1871
link
is the classic version of the war; Wawro's is a bit fresher and benefits from being written some 50 years later.

There are dozens of other great books out there and a ton of stuff on-line not the least of which are reprints of contemporary accounts which are wonderful in their detail, an excerpt here:

The order to attack was given; how and by whom we will discuss further on.
The {French cuirassier }regiments now changed front,
and advanced parallel to the ravine. The 8th was formed
in column of squadrons; the 9tll was forced to diminish their
front by having to pass between two clumps of trees; they
then formed line to the front, with the exception of the 3d
squadron, and the party of the 6th, who were unable to
change their formation.
As soon as General Miehel was warned, he placed himself
at the head of his brigade. The squadrons broke into
a gallop, and-the earth resounded to the tread of the horses,
who kept quickening their pace. Unfortunately, the ground
-had not been reconnoitered, and it was supposed that it was
necessary to charge over the open. The woods and hop fields
being impracticable, they rode through the intervals.
The 8th led the way. The enemy waited immovable, took
steady aim, and, as soon as the cuirassed line appeared at
the proper distance, fired two volleys by word of command,
followed by independent fire. The effect was murderous two-
thirds of the horses were hit, and staggered to the
ground with their riders, thus forming a line of corpses.
The remains of the regiment, passing through Morsbronn,
gained the open.
The 9th Cuirassiers and 6th Lancers followed in support;
but their advance was delayed by obstacles; the fire
of the enemy was on this account more effective, and the
whole mass was transformed into a confused mob of men
and horses pressing one against another. They now got to
the village, and were obliged to diminish their front to effect
an entrance. A terrible and crushing fire was poured• on
them from the houses as they passed. They now found it
was impossible to get through, as the end of the street was
blocked, so they endeavored to retreat; this attempt was
unsuccessful, and, with the exception of a small number,
all who were not killed were taken prisoners.
Such was the result of the second attempt with our
cavalry on this day. It was even more disastrous than the
first. On both occasions the bravery displayed was extreme;
the results-nil. They started without knowing the
object of the charge, and advanced without reconnoitering
the ground in front of them, and, after losing heavily, fell
back without having an opportunity of using their arms.
The ground was covered with dead horses, and many a man
owed his life to his cuirass. One could hear the bullets rattle
like hail on the cuirasses, but none were pierced, and
many dismounted men sought refuge in the woods.
The above is important, as it demonstrates the utility
of the cuirass, and proves that it is not a thing of the past,
as many assert; on the contrary, cuirassiers will always
enter into the composition of cavalry for the future.
This was written some years ago, when the infantry rifle had by
no means reached its present power.
The cuirass is no longer retained in any army as a part of the field equipment,
though it is still worn at ceremonies by some cavalry organizations.

All this account and pageantry with semi-modern weapons and still-colorful uniforms makes for great gaming. David recently had me post his wargame photos here.

TMP link

And during the game we managed to get a photo of David contemplating his next move ~

great posting!!

thanks ,, a fellow asked me about this cavalry charge mentioned in the excerpt in my posting above. There is an extensive discussion of this battle on the second or third posting on this excellent site:
link

Scroll down a tad on the page and you will see it with texts and photos.:So much for the idea that the breastplates warded off the bullets

The excerpt is from a really neat book containing three monographs :

Cavalry studies from two great wars, comprising The French Cavalry in 1870, by Lieutenant-Colonel Bonie. The German Cavalry in the battle of Vionville--Mars-la-Tour, by Major Kaehler. The operations of the Cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign, by Lieutenant-Colonel George B. Davis (1896)

This can be seen for free online. Go to lower right of the online image of the book and click the arrow to advance to the next page:
link

Nashville 24 Mar 2012 5:05 p.m. PST

……..
So much for the idea that the breastplates warded off the bullets

*NJH: I think that poor Curassier was struck by something larger than a rifle bullet, because the Chassepot was an 11mm round and the Prussian needle gun fired a 15mm round. Still, in either case, I'm sure he was quite dead. Great link – thanks.

That certainly makes sense now that I look at those holes which appear to be made contemporaneously such as a burst of canister from the fellow's left-front. The Germans did not have such problems since their breastplates seem to be much stouter:

She would have been a better commander than what the French had…
Great post! Love the battle of Froeschwiller!

Interesting discussion about body armour with troops now wearing increased levels of Kevlar and composite metals. the average infantryman from a NATO persepective will stand up in approx 30kg of helmet & body armour plus his weapon and fighting order, water, radio etc …

Fanastic resource Nashville I have four units left to paint and then its gaming time.

Thanks for posting this.

Great review.

Hi Nashville!

I'm "Zouave" over Armchair General.

Somehow you posted the link to my thread "Cuirassiers of Reichshoffen" using the Hybrid Mode/Link.

This is the correct link: link

Now you and the others will be able to see all posts on the thread (including the second page).

Please, take another look. :-)

Zouave.. that is one heck of a posting on Armchair General. …really great stuff. Perhaps you can suggest why the ( Imperial) French tended to keep their cavalry in Divison-sized units and didn't break them into aggressive troop and squadron-sized formations which is what the Germans did….ranging far and wide to harass the French and gain valuable intelligence not to mention screening their own units. With respect. ..the French were like Stuart at Gettysburg….failing in their primary mission. AND then when the French used their cavalry it was in endless Charge(s) of the Light Brigades with similar effect. What a waste..

I was under the impression that Prussian Cavalry wasn't that great at scouting either. Is that correct? I know they weren't in 1866 and WWI.

Thanks,

John

As to effectiveness of German cavalry.
link

Nashville,

Prussian light cavalry performed better at scouting than their French counterparts during the month of august 1870. However, I would like to point out that the Prussians didn't perform that well all the time.

Most French Generals employed their heavy cavalry as a hammer, as a shock missile. They were still more or less stuck in the Napoleonic mind set. For the most part, Cuirassier regiments formed the Reserve of the Cavalry. You know… The heavy cavalry, the feared French Cuirassier divisions, could turn a battle with their sheer weight and brute force. BUT… Warfare changed a lot between 1815 and 1870.

To be fair with the French commanders, if you take the Battle of Froeschwiller as example, they were fully aware of the dangers and difficulties the cuirassiers faced.

From Michael Howard's book:

"Lartigue reckoned that his only hope of maintaining his position lay in re-establishing a line from east to west along the southern edge of the Niederwald. His object therefore in unleashing the cavalry was not to recapture Morsbronn but to hold off the Germans while his infantry scrambled back across the exposed slopes to their new positions.

No French commander was under any illusion about the dangers involved to the protests of cavalry generals Lartigue's Chief of Staff replied that there was no other way of saving the division, and they accepted this loyally.

Michel launched his entire [Cuirassier] brigade down the slopes towards Morsbronn with an élan which it seemed that the scattered and winded Prussian infantry would be quite unable to withstand. But as they approached the village the horsemen found the smooth slopes before them cut up with hedges and vineyards, walls and trees, from behind which the Prussians directed on them a sustained and accurate fire."

We know what happened next…

Like Lartigue MacMahon regarded his heavy cavalry, General Bonnemain's division of cuirassiers, as a shock missile – a great mass whose impact would daze the enemy for long enough to enable the infantry to reorganise and get away. But over such country, broken up with vineyards, fences and walls, no such impact could be achieved.

It was a desperate act… But…

I profoundly respect their sense of duty and professionalism. Those French cavalrymen never hesitated a second, they did their best in an extremely difficult situation. French cavalry was employed during the battle to buy time for the French commanders to reform his lines or to cover the French retreat. They were buying time to allow the French army, in bad shape, to retreat in good order.

They paid cash for this precious time… With their blood.

I love to create threads like that over Armchair General because I'm sick and tired of ignorant people calling the French "cowards". I like to prove them wrong. :-D

Wawro is worth a read though his scholarship is infuriatingly patchy. Dr Patrick Marder's review here – link – says it better than I could.

Prof Howards book would be my first port of call, still, despite it having been written 30 years ago.

This excellent book, Cavalry studies by Lieutenant-Colonel Bonie and Major Kaehler, a contemporary evaluation of french and Prussian cavalry in 1870 is available from HELION PRESS in the UK; lovely reprint and well worth buying.

Also from HELION reprints of Col Henderson's British Staff College studies on SPICHERN – utterly brilliant and a must if you're doing SPICHERN seriously, also his study of WOERTH (not yet published but hopefully this year). Ditto Col Kane's study of the war in Alsace, HELION.

Also: 'A Day of Battle' by David Ascoli
'Sedan' by Douglas Fermer
'THE FALL OF PARIS the seige and the commune 1870-71' by ALISTAIR HORNE
The Overthrow of the Second Empire v. 1' by Quintin Barry and The Defeat of the Government of National Defence v. 2' also by Quintin Barry (not much new scholarship in either volume but a good read).
The famous Battery Press reprint of the 6 volume GGS (German) account of the war (NB, the maps aren't included with the reprint which is a pity).

Re the bullet holed cuirasse; the 1870 cuirasse was proofed against gunfire before issue, IMHO the photo is either not an 1870 cuirasse (earlier) or its been shot up with something a lot punchier than was a available in 1870. The chassepot (11mm full calibre) might just at point blank range make a hole but the Dreyse (13mm sub calibre) certainly wouldn't.

The photo of Morsbrunn is very sanitised; first hand accounts talk of a pile of writhing horses and men, German officers ordering their men to stop firing as it was 'Just too awful'.

Ramming,

"Also from HELION reprints of Col Henderson's British Staff College studies on SPICHERN – utterly brilliant and a must if you're doing SPICHERN seriously, also his study of WOERTH (not yet published but hopefully this year)."

That's great news! Thanks for the heads-up.

------------------------------------------

"Re the bullet holed cuirasse; the 1870 cuirasse was proofed against gunfire before issue, IMHO the photo is either not an 1870 cuirasse (earlier) or its been shot up with something a lot punchier than was a available in 1870."

That cuirass can be found at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris (if memory serves me right) and it belonged to Lieutenant-Colonel Archambault. He was killed while leading the 9th Cuirassiers at Wöerth/Froeschwiller.

-----------------------------------

"The photo of Morsbrunn is very sanitised; first hand accounts talk of a pile of writhing horses and men, German officers ordering their men to stop firing as it was 'Just too awful'."

Yes, it is… You are correct. That painting, by the famous French military painter Edouard Detaille, was not intended to shock anyone. It was designed to show the courage and self-sacrifice of the French soldiers. It was kind of a propaganda tool.

Reality was very different…

All movement through the village of Morsbronn stopped as the wounded mounts piled up, shot by Prussian infantry hidden in the buildings until the kicking, writhing carcasses plugged the streets. One Prussian captain recalled ordering his men to cease firing at the trapped, defenseless cavalry, because "it was just too ghastly".

From Bonie:
The ground was covered with dead horses, and many a man
owed his life to his cuirass. One could hear the bullets rattle
like hail on the cuirasses, but none were pierced, and
many dismounted men sought refuge in the woods.
The above is important, as it demonstrates the utility
of the cuirass, and proves that it is not a thing of the past,
as many assert; on the contrary, cuirassiers will always
enter into the composition of cavalry for the future.

Don't wish to sound dificult but I just can't believe a Dreyse could have done this (low muzzle velocity); if on TOH he'd been caught at close range by one of their own Mitrailleuses then its a distinct possibility. Isn't this a Napoleonic cuirasse? in which case even old Brown Bess could knock a hole in it. This Carabiner's cuirasse was hit by a British 9pdr – link

I've read Bonie.

Archambault's cuirass can be seen in the Franco-Prussian War section at the Cavalry Museum.

One could contact the museum and ask some questions.

Wawro is a good read.

Wawro is indeed a good read – but full of silly mistakes; like his book on the Austro Prussian war, good editing would have made it so much better.

Re the cuirasse; each one was shot at before issue and had the proof 'dent' on the front plate; I just don't see how anything the Prussians had in 1870 could hae pierced the steel; I'm asking round elsewhere and will get back to you on this one.
This is why I enjoy these boards so much, a spirit of friendly exchange between posters with the ultimate intention of improving our knowledge and understanding of the period. Truly we are gentleman scholars.

Re the above;

According to Hardoin's Français & Allemands: histoire anecdotique de la guerre de 1870-1871, Archambault (or, to give his full name, Archambault de Beaune) was killed by a shell burst, which removed half his head. Apparently, neither this appalling injury nor the chest wounds indicated by the damage to his cuirasse killed him immediately and he lingered until 7 August, the day after Froeschwiller (Martimprey: Historique du 9e Régiment de Cuirassiers). The holes in the cuirasse shown on the photograph are more consistent with shell splinters than with rifle fire, especially since Archambault was charging on horseback when he was hit. Archambault was leading the regiment when he was mortally wounded because the colonel, Waternau, had already been unhorsed and captured.

Think that clinches it.

Great detective work, Ramming! Thanks for sharing this info.

Pleasure mon ami!