[9][13] On 11 December 1870, with a dramatic failure for several days against the Prussian army by the Grand Duke Origin Mecklenburg in the Battle of Beaugency, Chanzy began conducting a deplete.

[2] However, due to the caution of the German cavalry, the French reached their new defensive positions on the Loir, both from the Vendôme, on 13 December 1870.

[1] On 14 December the army of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg approached the French troops, who were holding a key position on the outskirts of the small town of Fréteval, and fighting raged for two days here with neither side gaining an advantage.

Here, the German army discovered their enemy was standing in front of the city, under the support of four artillery batteries deployed on the high points where an ancient castle stood.

[2] Fighting broke out at midday on 16 December, when both General Chanzy and French admiral Jaureguiberry were present in the city.

However, the German fire was unable to do any good, because the land here was muddy and there was lightning, so the inertial warhead of the shells were disabled by the mud.

[2][15] Having entered Vendôme, the Germans captured 1 machine gun and 6 cannons from the defeated French army.

[1] The French entered Le Mans on 21 December 1870,[1] and their weary forces were assembled in barracks around this strategically important position.