The end was near for the 
entrapped French Army.  The 
Emperor Napoleon III was trapped 
with his army in the small town 
of Sedan.  Refusing to retreat, 
the French Army lacked any 
command control - this Napoleon 
was not the military strategist 
as was his uncle.

By September 1st, 1870 elements 
of the 5th and 11th Prussian 
Corps were in place, any chance 
of a French withdrawl was now 
gone.  Detirmined to finish off 
the French and close off all 
routes to Sedan, the Bavarian 
Corps attacked the neighboring 
town of Bazeilles.  

The Bavarains secured the town 
by early moringing but soon the 
French struck back, a 4 hour 
house to house fight ensued. 
Eventually the French secured 
the town but soon the Saxon 12th 
Corps counter attacked.  The 
superior Prussian Krupp artillery 
began to take its toll on the 
French troops; the Prussians 
were soon blasting the French 
out of each building they 
occupied.

By early noon the town of 
Bazeilles was in flames and the 
French were driven out.  The 
Emperor ordered several more 
attempts to break out, but to no 
avail. After seeing his men 
destroyed and no hope of breaking
out the Emperor surrendered. 

For the loss of 8,900 men the 
Prussians captured nearly 83,000 
men.