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First Efforts of the National Defence Delegates La Motte-Rouge and his Dyed Hair The German Advance South of Paris Moltke and King William Bourges, the German Objective Characteristics of Beauce, Perche, and Sologne French Evacuation of Orleans Gambetta arrives at Tours His Coadjutor, Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet Total Forces of the National Defence on Gambetta's Arrival D'Aurelle de Paladines supersedes La Motte-Rouge The Affair of Chateaudun Cambriels Garibaldi Jessie White Mario Edward Vizetelly Catholic Hatred of Garibaldi The Germans at Dijon The projected Relief of Paris Trochu's Errors and Ducrot's Schemes The French Victory of Coulmiers Change of Plan in Paris My Newspaper Work My Brother Adrian Vizetelly The General Position.
General Lefort's first task was to collect the necessary elements for an additional army corps the 15th and he summoned to his assistance the veteran General de la Motte-Rouge, previously a very capable officer, but now almost a septuagenarian, whose particular fad it was to dye his hair, and thereby endeavour to make himself look no more than fifty.
Thus the campaign in which I became interested was carried on principally in the departments of Eure-et-Loir, Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, and Sarthe, to terminate, at last, in Mayenne. Great indiscipline prevailed among the troops whom La Motte-Rouge had under his orders. An attack by Von der Tann to the north of Orleans on October 10, led to the retreat of a part of the French forces.
He did so by removing La Motte-Rouge from his command, which he gave to D'Aurelle de Paladines. The latter, a general on the reserve list, with a distinguished record, was in his sixty-sixth year, having been born at Languedoc in 1804. He had abilities as an organiser, and was known to be a disciplinarian, but he was growing old, and looked confidence both in himself and in his men.
On the following day, when the French had from 12,000 to 13,000 men engaged, they were badly defeated, some 1800 of their men being put hors de combat, and as many being taken prisoners. This reverse, which was due partly to some mistakes made by La Motte-Rouge, and partly to the inferior quality of his troops, led to the immediate evacuation of Orleans.
Further, in the east of France there was a force under General Cambriels, whose object was to cut the German communications in the Vosges. Von der Tann, having defeated La Motte-Rouge, occupied Orleans, whilst the French withdrew across the Loire to La Motte-Beuvron and Gien, south and south-east of their former position. Gambetta had to take action immediately.
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