Battle of Borny–Colombey

The Battle of Borny–Colombey or the Battle of Colombey-Nouilly took place on 14 August 1870 as part of the Franco-Prussian War. During the battle the escape route of the French army under François Bazaine was blocked when the French encountered the First Army under von Steinmetz. The outcome of the battle itself was indecisive as although the French were able to escape to Metz, they were delayed for 12 hours.^[4]

Battle of Borny–Colombey
Part of the Franco-Prussian War
Situation 5 PM
Date 14 August 1870 Location Borny–Colombey, Moselle, France 49°06′40″N 6°15′16″E Result Inconclusive tactical victory for France
Belligerents
North German Confederation Kingdom of Prussia	French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz	François Bazaine
Units involved
First Army	Army of the Rhine
Strength
50,000[1]	30,000[1]
Casualties and losses
4,906[2]–5,222 casualties[1]	3,608[3]–3,915[1]
Borny - Colombey Grand Est Region

Like most of the early battles of the war, Borny was one that neither side had planned or wanted.^[5] For the French, the battle had dire consequences as they neglected to use their numerical superiority to force a passage and it delayed the Army's retreat out of Metz for twelve precious hours.^[3] This gave the Prussians the time to bring up their Second army under Prince Frederick Charles and assured that after the battles fought in the following days (Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte) France's premier army would be trapped at Metz.^[6]

Citations

1. Clodfelter 2008, p. 202.
2. German General Staff 1881, pp. 113–117*.
3. German General Staff 1881, p. 335.
4. German General Staff 1881, p. 337.
5. German General Staff 1881, p. 336.
6. German General Staff 1881, pp. 337–338.

References

• Clodfelter, M. (2008). Warfare and armed conflicts : a statistical encyclopedia of casualty and other figures, 1494-2007. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0786433193.
• German General Staff (1881). The Franco-German War 1870-71: Part 1; Volume 1. Translated by F.C.H. Clarke (2nd ed.). London: Clowes & Sons.

Further reading

• Hardoin, Georges. Français & Allemands. Histoire anecdotique de la guerre de 1870–1871. Tome V. L'Investissement de Metz. La journée des dupes. Servigny. Noisseville. Flanville. Nouilly. Coincy.
• Rédigé par la section historique du grand état-major prussien et traduit par le capitaine Paul Émile Costa de Serda, Supplément cartes de la guerre franco-allemande de 1870–71. Première partie, Histoire de la guerre jusqu'à la chute de l'empire. Premier volume, Du début des hostilités à la bataille de Gravelotte., s.l., 1874.
• von Widdern, Georg. Kritische Tage. I. Teil. Die Initiative und die gegenseitige Unterstuetzung in der deutschen Heeres-und Truppenfuerung. Bd. 1. Die I. Armee bei Colombey-Nouilly am 13. u. 14. August 1870, Berlin, 1897.