[3] While Mac Mahon wished to retreat on Paris in order to reconstitute his army, consultations convinced him of rescuing Bazaine which unfolded on Metz following new engagements at Rezonville and Saint-Privat on August 16 and 18.

Mac Mahon decided on August 23 to leave Reims and marched towards the north-east in order to pass Meuse between Sedan and Verdun.

[6] Three German armed corps engaged the troops of Beaumont: the I. Bayerischen Korps on the left, the IV.

Despite the resistance of the infantry and the relaunching of combats at Mouzon with the unfortunate heroic charge of the 5th Cuirassiers,[7] the corps of de Failly was defeated and had to retreat on Sedan.

The battle of Beaumont had for consequence the renunciation of Marshal Mac Mahon to come and rescue Bazaine at Metz.

[9] The next day, on September 1, 1870, the IIIrd and IV German corps attacked the ensemble of the armies of Mac Mahon positioned in the two cities.

This battle witnessed the disappearing of the Army of Châlons, which consisted the loss of 124.000 men for France.