Battle of Vendôme

On 14 and 15 December, the above-mentioned high points were still in the hands of the French army.^[2]

Fighting broke out at midday on 16 December, when both General Chanzy and French admiral Jaureguiberry were present in the city. So that they could facilitate a mighty French defense, so General Von Voigts-Rhetz of the Imperial German Army, in order to preserve as much of his force as possible, ordered an artillery force. Soldiers played a major role in the fighting. From 3 hours to 4 hours and a half-way, the German sheels were thunderous. However, the German fire was unable to do any good, because the land here was muddy and there was lightning, so the inertial warhead of the shells were disabled by the mud. Despite this, several French cannons were damaged, and one of the food carts was destroyed, causing heavy damage to the French soldiers standing nearby. The French mitrailleuse machine guns also responded violently to the German cannon fire, but with little effect, because the German assault forces were covered on a large scale.^[1] The artillery battle ended with the victory of the German cannons,^[2] and by 5 p.m. the French had organized a retreat under the support of the artillery batteries on the heights. The roar of the firecrackers actually ended as it was almost dark. The officer of the French army discussed the outcome of the events of the next day with great confidence.^[1] However, Prince Friedrich Karl's forces were sufficient to deal a fatal blow to Vendôme.^[7]

During the night of 16 December Prussian forces launched a campaign with the intention of encircling the city to launch an attack at dawn. On the morning of 17 December these preparations were revealed, and the French panicked. They decided to break the bridge over the Loir which they did quickly, though not so smoothly—and retreat. The Germans entered the city, and the bridge was not badly damaged. At 11 a.m., a Prussian battery was put into position on the heights. They opened fire on the retreating French vertical formations. After half an hour, the artillery attack ended, and a number of French prisoners and cannons were brought in. [first]

The German victory at Vendôme had a great influence on the course of the campaign. Covered on the right flank,^[1] the French had to leave both Fréteval and Vendôme to the enemy.^[2][15] Having entered Vendôme, the Germans captured 1 machine gun and 6 cannons from the defeated French army.^[5] The battle turned against Chanzy,^[1] and he withdrew to Le Mans.^[1] The German front now stretched from Cloyes to Morée in the north, through Vendôme, to Blois in the southeast. The divisions of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg captured Cloyes and Morée. Meanwhile, the X Corps held Vendôme and the IX Corps held the position at Blois.^[1]

The French entered Le Mans on 21 December 1870,^[1] and their weary forces were assembled in barracks around this strategically important position.^[4] Although the German army mastered the frontline from Le Mans to Tours, in January 1871, after the sporadic fighting, the Army of the Loire in France recently been entirely defeated in the Battle of Le Mans which lasted for 4 days.^[16]