570 
THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR (PART III.) 
succeeding day, on the evening of which Orleans was again occupied by 
the invaders. On the 6th, the G-overnment of Tours deprived 
de Paladines of his command, giving over the 15th, 18th, and 20th 
Corps to the charge of Bourbaki, and detailing Chanzy for the direction 
of the troops which had retired westward. To these (16th and 17th 
Corps) were added the newly formed 19th and 21st Corps, the whole 
bearing the denomination a few days later of the 2nd Army of the 
Loire. 
The disasters which fell upon the French arms in this campaign seem 
to have resulted principally from the want of accord between the civil 
and military authorities—that fatal system of dual government so 
dear to theory and so fatal in practice. It was unfortunate that an 
advance had to be so hurriedly made without sufficient time being 
given for proper preparation, but even as it happened the movement 
does not seem to have been carried out with sufficient energy. To 
arrive at Paris it was necessary not merely to force a way through the 
German lines, but to inflict a severe and crushing defeat. The semi- 
organised French levies could scarcely hope to advance with powerful 
regular forces on their flanks, and to gain a decided success every 
available man should have been pushed to the front. As it was, in the 
battle of Orleans, the 18th and 20th Corps did nothing, and the 17th 
were only partially engaged. Again, after the doubtful successes of 
the 2nd December, it is difficult to understand why these corps were 
not drawn in to Orleans. To carefully fortify a strong position and not 
utilize it, requires explanation. On the 3rd it was undoubtedly too 
late; the French army was effectually cut in two, and an endeavour to 
re-unite could only lead to disaster. The strategy on the German side 
has been much praised, but it is difficult to say why. Prince Frederick 
Charles moved his troops to the threatened points when attacked, and 
when attacking massed his forces for the effort ; and his ably carried out 
plans, though sound, were not especially brifliant. 
second The 2nd Campaign of the Loire.— After the capture of Orleans 
cainpai^ (German forces were assembled in the vicinity of the city, and their 
Loire. cavalry pushed forward in pursuit of the retreating columns of the 
enemy. The French troops had retired on divergent lines ; the 15th 
Corps—which had formed the centre of the army—falling back on 
Salbris, the 18th and 20th on Gien, and the 16th and 17th towards 
Beaugency. In order to find out where the next stand of the enemy 
would be made, Prince Frederick Charles sent the Duke of 
Mecklenburgh with a powerful force down the Loire, following 
Bourbaki towards Gien with the III. Corps. The X. and half the IX. 
Corps remained as a reserve at Orleans. It soon became evident that 
the right wing of the French army was thoroughly disorganised, and 
that all efforts would have to be directed against the left wing, which 
had retired to the westward, under the command of General Chanzy. 
On the 7th December the French occupied a strong position extend¬ 
ing from the Forest of Marchenoir on the left to the Loire on the right. 
The 16th and 17th Corps had been reinforced by the newly-formed 
21st Corps and a portion of the 19th, and numbered more than 
Map 8i 
