Conflict: Franco-Prussian War
Combatants: French vs. Prussians
Location: France
Outcome: Prussian victory
After retreating from the captured city of Saarbrucken, a French army of 24,000 men, commanded by General Charles-Auguste Frossard, attempted to halt the advancing Prussians while defending from a plateau at Spicheren. A force of 27,000 soldiers commanded by General Karl von Steinmetz launched an attack on the French on August 6th. Mistaken reports of troop strengths and movements on both sides along with mixed communications led to a confusing battle. Despite multiple damaging counterattacks, the French were forced to withdraw in the evening. The French retreated to Metz having suffered nearly 2,000 killed or wounded and as many captured. The Prussians took about 5,000 casualties including twice as many killed.
Points of Interest:
The Battle of Spicheren is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Forbach.
On the same day they were driven from Spicheren, the French lost another battle 40 miles away at Worth with some 15,000 casualties.
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Sources:
Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).
Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.
Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
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