Battle of Hallue

Part of the Franco-Prussian War

Date	23–24 December 1870
Location	north-east of Amiens, France
Result	Minor French victory

Belligerents

Kingdom of Prussia

France

Commanders and leaders

Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel

Louis Faidherbe

Strength

22,500 soldiers

40,000 soldiers

Casualties and losses

996 soldiers killed and wounded

1,000+ soldiers killed,
1,300 soldiers captured

The Battle of Hallue was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War on December 23 and 24, 1870.

The battle was fought between 40,000 French under General Louis Faidherbe and 22,500 Prussian troops under Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel. The French lost heavily in the village lying in front of their position. However, the Prussians were unable to carry the entrenchments on the heights. After the attack was repulsed, the French assumed the offensive, but with no decisive result. One thousand French soldiers were killed, and 1,300 were imprisoned. About 927 German troops were killed and wounded.

After the fall of Amiens, on September 27, 1870, and its occupation by the Prussian Army, the French Northern Army fell back towards Doullens and Bapaume to build up its strength again. It received a fresh supply of troops, allowing it to turn out three divisions.

General Faidherbe, lately entrusted with the command of this army, at once gave guiding rules and orders. He sent General Lecointe towards Saint-Quentin with the mission to act on the Haute Somme. Four battalions, including one of light-infantry and a battery of 4, succeeded, on September 9, in taking possession of Ham and its fortress. Faidherbe, coming on the place, gave the order to withdraw and go towards Amiens.

On December 17, the Northern Army, regrouped, came settling to the Hallue valley from Bavelincourt to Daours. The troops (about 43,000 men) were divided into two army corps :

These troops were billeted in all the villages of the valley and outposts settled on a line passing through the woods of Saint-Gratien, Allonville and Querrieu (La Gorgue).

General von Goeben

General Faidherbe, portrait 1860

General von Manteuffel

At the same time, General von der Goeben, chief commander of the 8th Prussian Corps, set:

General-Major von Mirus in command of the 6th Cavalry Brigade staying in Amiens for two days, sent a strong reconnaissance party consisting of a cavalry troop, an infantry battalion and a field artillery battery, to Querrieu village.

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