Battle of Longeau

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Battle of Longeau

The Battle of Longeau took place on 16 December 1870 near Longeau-Percey in Haute-Marne, France, during the Franco-Prussian War. It lasted about three hours and ended with a German victory.

What happened
- The German forces were a brigade led by Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz and part of the XIV Corps under August von Werder, totaling about 6,500 troops with 15 cannons. The French, sent from Langres to Longeau, had around 2,000–6,000 soldiers with 4 cannons, commanded by General Pierre Arbellot de Vacqueur.
- A garrison of about 200 French soldiers from the 50th line regiment had been at Longeau since November. On the morning of 16 December, Arbellot received warning of the Prussians and brought in reinforcements of about 1,500 men from the line and the mobiles (light troops).
- The battle began when the Prussians opened fire around 11 a.m. The French cannons were scattered and several guns were moved or hidden. The Prussians attacked the wings of the French position and drove the mobile troops from their ground, capturing one cannon and later a second.
- The French mobiles made a few stand attempts on higher ground but were forced to retreat to Langres, leaving behind many casualties and equipment.

Results
- French losses were about 150 men killed or wounded and 80 taken prisoner, plus two cannons and two caissons captured. The German side suffered about 20 casualties (4 killed, 15 wounded, 1 officer).
- After the battle, Goltz paused at Bourg and then moved to secure Langres and the nearby supply lines. Werder’s forces did not stay long in the area; they later pulled back as other French forces moved toward Dijon and Belfort. By 26 December, Dijon had been evacuated as Bourbaki’s army approached, and German troops began to withdraw toward Vesoul.

Monuments
- After the war, three monuments were raised to remember the battle. One honors Stanislas de Régel, commander of the Haute-Marne mobiles, and the mobile troops who fell there. A second memorial honors other mobile guards killed at Longeau, and a third is in the Longeau cemetery with plaques listing the fallen soldiers.