Part III: Battle of Mars-la-Tour
The battle of Mars-la-Tour opened in the morning hours of August the 16th with a barrage of Prussian artillery shells falling up the cavalry of General Forton’s division near Vionville. These guns belonged to the Prussian III Corps of General Constantin von Alvensleben. Alvensleben had ordered his army to advance believing that he was facing a mere rearguard of the fleeing French. In reality, Alvensleben and his corps had stumbled upon the bulk of the French army. This presented the French with a golden opportunity to deal the outnumbered Prussians a significant blow.
Alvensleben ordered his men forward upon the villages of Rezonville and Vionville supported by artillery deployed on a ridge of high ground southwest of Flavigny. In the recent series of engagements, the Prussian Krupp guns had proven themselves far superior to the artillery of their French enemies. As the Prussian infantry advanced they came into contact with elements of the French II Corps of General Charles Frossard. Frossard was determined to hold his ground and had taken up a strong position with his left wing anchored on the nearby Juree stream. The Prussians made good progress against the French capturing Vionville. Marshal Canrobert meanwhile had spent that morning seeing off Napoleon III who finally departed the army escorted by his elite Chasseurs d’Afrique. Canrobert on hearing news of the action proceeded to the front. The VI, III and IV Corps along with the Imperial Guard Corps was ordered to shore up Frossard’s right flank and concentrate near St. Marcel.
The fighting was hard fought with the Prussian artillery dealing the French heavy blows. In the infantry battles, however, it was the French Chassepot that proved superior to the Prussian Dreyse. By midday it became clear Alvensleben was rapidly running out of reserves. It was at this point that Canrobert ordered a general advance upon Vionville and Tronville. North of Vionville Prussians cavalry squadrons did their best to keep the French at bay through a series of near suicidal charges. The Prussian infantry as well taking up a good position in the woods to the north of Tronville made the French pay for every inch. This stout defense ultimately proved to be futile as the French through weight of numbers cracked open the Prussian position capturing both Vionville and Tronville. The French cavalry was then unleashed to exploiting the breakthrough.
With their lines collapsing the Prussians began a chaotic retreat eastward. Canrobert hoped to destroy the Prussian Corps by surrounding it and pushing driving it into the Juree. Total victory, however, would prove elusive as the elements of the Prussian X Corps arrived on the field. These fresh units helped cover the withdrawal of Alvensleben’s shattered corps. Though he had not annihilated his enemy, Canrobert had much to be satisfied with, he had driven the Prussians away from the Verdun road and could not begin his withdrawal from Metz.
Note: Bazaine, in OTL battle, was overly concerned about a nonexistent attack on his left wing and keep far too many units, including the Guard, in the Rezonville-Gravelotte area. He additionally did not forcefully push his nearly successful breakthrough at Tronville. In this alternate scenario, Canrobert will be less concerned about his left flank and concentrate on his right-center forcefully pushing the attack and smashing through. Overall, I wasn’t sure how detailed to make this post. Curious if anyone cares wants to read about individual unit actions vs a broad narrative?