Fearing his line of 
communications would be cut, 
Marshal Bazaine ordered his 
French armies to withdraw.  
After a full days' march both 
the 2nd and 6th French Corps 
were now only 5 miles outside 
the fortress city of Metz.  On 
the early morning of August 
16th, 1870, the advance patrols 
of the German 3rd Corps stumbled
upon the resting French.  
Without waiting for orders or 
support, General Stuphagel 
ordered a general attack.

Not aware that he was attacking 
two French Corps, Stuphagel's 
men charged forward into the 
waiting guns of the French.  
As heavy losses mounted, the 
French had an opportunity to 
inflict a major defeat on the 
Prussians.  But poor generalship
and communication hampered the 
French.

By noon the Prussians had fallen
back, but the French has yet 
to launch any counter attack.  
Marshal Bazaine ordered a 
series a calvary charges in 
the hopes of routing the 
Prussians, but the Prussian 5th 
and 6th Calvary divisions 
counter and this soon lead to 
one of the largest calvary 
battles in the war.  Regiment 
after regiment of Frnech and 
Prussian calvary clashed, both 
sides charged and counter-
charged.  

It was the superior Prussian 
calvary that finally drove off 
the French.  By night fall, the
battle soon became an artillery 
duel between the two opposing 
armies.  Both armies had stood 
thier ground and the battle 
was a draw. 

Even though the French claimed 
a victory, the losses were 
heavy heavy on both sides - 
17,000 French, 16,000 Prussians.