Battle of Hallue-Cedar Herald Index

The Battle of Hallue was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War on 23 and 24 December 1870.

The battle was fought between 40,000 French under General Louis Faidherbe and 22,500 Prussian troops under Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel. The French lost heavily in the village lying in front of their position. However, the Prussians were unable to carry the entrenchments on the heights. After the attack was repulsed, the French assumed the offensive, but with no decisive result. One thousand French soldiers were killed, and 1,300 were imprisoned. About 927 German troops were killed and wounded.

Battle of Hallue

French Northern Army

After the fall of Amiens on 27 November 1870 and its occupation by the Prussian Army, the French Northern Army fell back towards Doullens and Bapaume to build up its strength again. It received a fresh supply of troops, allowing it to turn out three divisions.

Battle of Hallue

General Faidherbe, lately entrusted with the command of this army, at once gave guiding rules and orders. He sent General Lecointe towards Saint-Quentin with the mission to act on the Haute Somme. Four battalions, including one of light-infantry and a battery of 4, succeeded, on 9 December, in taking possession of Ham and its fortress. Faidherbe, coming on the place, gave the order to withdraw and go towards Amiens.

Battle of Hallue

On 17 December the Northern Army, regrouped, came settling to the Hallue valley from Bavelincourt to Daours. The troops (about 43,000 men) were divided into two army corps:

The 22nd, with two divisions commanded by Major-General Derroja and Major-General Du Dessol The 23rd, with also two divisions commanded by Rear-Admiral Moulac and Major-General Robin

These troops were billeted in all the villages of the valley and outposts settled on a line passing through the woods of Saint-Gratien, Allonville and Querrieu (La Gorgue).

French Army tactical positions on 19 December

The 1st Division occupied Vadencourt, Bavelincourt, Beaucourt and Béhencourt, keeping up the road to Arras. The 2nd Division kept Querrieu, Pont-Noyelles, Bussy, Daours and Vecquemont. The 3rd Division was in reserve; its 1st Brigade kept watch over the Somme River, on Corbie and Fouilloy and detached a regiment on Lahoussoye. The 4th Division in the making up, was put up around Corbie.

Prussian Army

At the same time, General von der Goeben, chief commander of the 8th Prussian Corps, set:

The 32nd Brigade (General De Rex) into Amiens. The 31st Brigade was just arriving on Sains and the field-artillery was on Ailly-sur-Noye. The 15th Infantry Division (General Kummer) was along the La Luce river. The cavalry (Lieutenant-General Graf von der Gröben) was on flank-guard from Rosières to Chaulnes.

Skirmish on Querrieu, 20 December

General-Major von Mirus in command of the 6th Cavalry Brigade staying in Amiens for two days, sent a strong reconnaissance party consisting of a cavalry troop, an infantry battalion and a field artillery battery, to Querrieu village.

Reaching the La Gorgue wood skirt, the party knocked against a French outpost and, sustained by its artillery, joined a lengthy battle.

Two French battalions strenuously fought back, so much that General Du Dessol launched three companies coming from Bussy-lès-Daours to the right flank of the enemy, who is constrained to a withdrawal towards the Alençons farm, then to Amiens.

In this battle the Prussians lost 3 officers and 69 men killed or wounded; French casualties were 7 dead and 20 wounded.

Battle on the Hallue valley, 23 December

Succeeding to General Steinmetz, General Manteuffel, recently appointed at the head of the 1st Prussian Army, arrived in Amiens on 22 December and gave the offensive order for the next day at 8 a.m.:

The 15th Division must attack straight to the river, following an axle materialized by the Albert and Corbie roads. The 16th Division, by the roads in the north of Arras road, must outflank the right-wing of French troops. An infantry Brigade is kept in reserve. Part of the cavalry Division must carry out the touch between the 15th and the 16th Divisions. Fresh supplies of troops, shall be launched in the battle as soon as their arrival.

French dispositions remain unchanged.

The battle is going to stretch out across a front line of wide and s deep, on snow-covered ground and an icy temperature increased by a wind blowing from the north.