September 1, 1870 · Ardennes Theater
September 1, 1870
The most decisive battle of the war was fought in the bend of the Meuse River near Sedan, where MacMahon's Army of Châlons — attempting to relieve Metz — was surrounded by two German armies moving in a pincer movement of extraordinary coordination. MacMahon was wounded early in the battle and command passed to Ducrot and then Wimpffen in rapid succession, neither able to impose coherence on a collapsing situation. German artillery — 500 guns ringing the French position from the surrounding heights — fired with devastating effect into the confined space. Napoleon III, who had joined the army and rode through the battle seeking a death that refused to come, finally ordered the white flag raised at 4 PM. He then wrote to King Wilhelm I: 'Not having been able to die in the midst of my troops, nothing remains for me but to surrender my sword to Your Majesty.'
Commanders