French Military Transport 1870: Regulations and Reality
French Military Transport Organisation
as laid down in the 1867 Regulations
The experiences gained during the war in Italy in 1859 led the French to thoroughly reorganise their transport. This article presents the organisation of columns and trains at regimental, divisional, corps and army level as set out in the 1867 regulations.
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I. Ammunition Columns
The ammunition columns came under the train d`artillerie, which supplied the wagons, horses and drivers. The equipage de pont de corps d`armee (corps bridging train) also came under the train d`artillerie and counted as part of the ammunition columns. The parc de genie on the other hand was driven by sapeurs-conducteurs (each of the 3 engineer regiments had a company of sapeurs-conducteurs attached).
Each division would have three batteries, either 3 4-pound batteries, or 2 4-pound and 1 mitrailleuse battery.
The cavalry division of a corps had no artillery of its own, but usually a single horse battery would be given to it from the artillery reserve. An independent cavalry division would have 2 horse batteries.
A corps would have an artillery reserve with 2 12-pound batteries, 2 4-pound driving batteries and 4 horse batteries. For the whole army there would be a main artillery reserve of 16 batteries, comprising 8 4-pound and 8 12-pound batteries.
Ammunition supply would be carried as follows:
A). Infantry Division
For 13 infantry battalions (12 line, 1 chasseur): 14 2-wheel ammunition carts, 5 4-wheel ammunition wagons, 1 equipment wagon.
For the 3 batteries of the division:
Each had 2 ammunition wagons, 1 spare gun carriage, 2 equipment wagons, 1 field forge.
Total for the infantry division: 38 vehicles.
B). Cavalry Division
If part of an army corps, for 1 battery 2 ammunition wagons, 1 spare gun carriage, 2 equipment wagons, 1 field forge.
If independent:
For the cavalry firearms 2 infantry ammunition wagons.
For 2 batteries:
4 ammunition wagons, 2 spare gun carriages, 4 equipment wagons, 2 field forges.
For a division in a corps: 6 vehicles.
For an independent division: 14 vehicles.
C). Artillery Reserve
(For a corps with 2 12-pound batteris, 2 4-pound driving batteries, 2 4-pound horse batteries- with some corps there would be two more horse batteries.)
3 4-pound batteries each 2 ammunition wagons, 1 spare gun carriage, 2 equipment wagons, 1 field forge- total 18 vehicles.
2 12-pound batteries each 6 ammunition wagons, 1 spare gun carriage, 2 equipment wagons, 1 field forge- total 20 wagons.
For a corps with one battery of the eight allocated to the cavalry division- total 50 vehicles.
D). Corps
Parc de Campagne:
a). For each Infantry Divison:
Infantry ammunition: 8 ammunition wagons, 1 ammunition cart.
Artillery ammunition: 3 batteries, for each 4 ammunition wagons, 1 supply wagon.
Total for the infantry division: 24 vehicles.
b). For the Cavalry Division:
Cavalry ammunition: 2 ammunition wagons.
Total for the cavalry division: 2 vehicles.
c). For the Artillery Reserve:
2 12-pound batteries each 10 ammunition wagons.Total for the artillery reserve: 48 vehicles.
(With 6 4-pound batteries- 60 vehicles.
d). Parc vehicles:
1).3 equipment wagons, 7 material wagons, 11 to 12 field forges.
Total 27 vehicles.
2).Equipage de pont de corps d`armee: 36 pontonn wagons, 2 material wagons, 2 field forges.
Total 40 vehicles.
3). Parc de génie:
Parc de corps d`armée: 9 wagons, 2 reserve wagons.
Total 11 vehicles.
E). Outside the Corps structure:-
1). For the independent Cavalry Division see above.
2). Main artillery reserve consisting of:
8 12-pound and 8 4-pound batteries, the numbers of ammunition vehicles per battery as above.
Total 112 vehicles.
The parc de campagne of the main artillery reserve:
134 artillery ammunition wagons, 4 infantry ammunition wagons, 5 material wagons, 11 equipment wagons, 8 spare gun carriages.
Total 162 vehicles.
3). Grand parc de campagne:
a). For each Infantry Division 8 ammunition wagons.
For the artillery:
3 ammunition wagons for each 12-pound battery.
2 ammunition wagons for each 4-pound battery.
In additon:16 material wagons, 80 equipment wagons, 72 spare gun carriages.
Total 720 vehicles
b). Équipage de pont de réserve:
77 vehicles
4). Grand parc du génie:
56 vehicles
II. Trains
The French Train was under the Intendance, which was responsible for the supply of food and other materials. It consisted of vehicles that were attached to the troops and marched with them, and others which operated in the rear of the army on the line of communications. Vehicles marching with the troops would mostly be provided by the train des équipages, and were divided into the train particulier de troupe and the train régulier. Vehicles operating in the rear consisted of voitures réquisitionéesand made up the train auxiliaire. Any missing regular vehicles were to be replaced with requisitioned vehicles.
The train was organised as follows:
1). train particulier, consisting of the voitures régimentaires (regimental baggage wagons), the cacolets (horses used for carrying wounded), cantinières, field post wagons and wagons carrying the military chest;
2). train régulier, consisting of medical vehicles, food supplies for men and horses, and replacement material;
3). train auxiliaire, used mostly for food convoys.
Each formation had the following:
A). Infantry Division
1).Train particulier de troupe:
a).voitures regimentaires:
4 infantry regiments each of 3 battalions: 44 vehicles.
1 chasseur à pied battalion: 3 vehicles.
1 divisional staff, 2 brigade staffs: 9 vehicles (3 4-wheel, 6 2-wheel).
Genie company: 1 vehicle.
2). 2 military chest wagons, 1 field post wagon: 3 vehicles.
Cantinières:
4 infantry regiments: 24 vehicles.
1 chasseur battalion: 1 vehicle.
Artillery: 3 vehicles.
Genie 1 vehicle.
Total: 90 vehicles.
Note the cacolets are not included.)
2).Train régulier:
Medical: 7 vehicles
Food: 42 vehicles
Fodder: 15 vehicles
Material: 9 vehicles
Total: 73 vehicles
3). Train auxiliaire:
50 vehicles
B). Cavalry Division
1).Train particulier de troupe:
a). voitures régimentaires:
4 line cavalry regiments each of 4 squadrons: 24 vehicles
(note: light cavalry regiments had 5 squadrons)
Headquarters wagons- 1 each for 1 divisional and 2 brigade staffs: 3 vehicles
(note: with a light cavalry division, 15 vehicles more.)
b). 2 military chest wagons, 1 field post wagon: 3 vehicles
c). Cantinières:
4 regiments each of 4 squadrons: 20 vehicles
1 battery: 1 vehicle
(note: with 6 regiments including a light cavalry brigade, 12 vehicles more.)
Total 51 vehicles
(note:with 6 regiments 78 vehicles in total.)
2).Train régulier:
Medical: 3 vehicles
Food: 13 vehicles
Fodder 39 vehicles
Material 4 vehicles
Total for the train régulier 59 vehicles
3) Train auxiliaire: 40 vehicles.
C). Corps Command:
1).Train particulier
a). Corps Staff: 7 4-wheel, 8 2-wheel vehicles;
genie reserve with bridging train: 2 vehicles.
b). 2 military chest wagons, 1 field post wagon.
c).cantinières with the artillery reserve 6 vehicles, with the genie reserve with bridging train 2 vehicles.
Total for the train particulier 28 vehicles.
2).Train régulier:
Medical 10 vehicles
Food 9 vehicles
Fodder 30 vehicles
Material 14 vehicles
Total for the rain regulier 63 vehicles
3). Train auxiliaire: 75 vehicles.
The allocation of vehicles for similar-sized Prussian units would be about one-third greater.
See also French Military Transport during and after Mobilisation July-Agust 1870
Website "The Franco-Prussian War 1870-71"
©Martin Tomczak 2004