Battle of Villersexel Battle of Villersexel The Battle of Villersexel took place on 9 January 1871 as part of the Franco-Prussian War. Elements of the French "Armée de l'Est" under General Bourbaki engaged August von Werder's Prussian forces. It resulted in a French victory. In the turmoil and confusion following major reverses and capitulations at Sedan, Paris, and Metz, the remaining French armies faced major supply difficulties which restricted their movements. The "Armée de l'Est" was tasked with reaching and assisting Belfort, where Colonel Denfert-Rochereau still held out. Werder's Prussians caught up to Bourbaki in the evening of 9 January at Villersexel, where
The Defense of Champigny Detaille's penchant for military art. The Defense of Champigny The Defense of Champigny is a late 19th century painting by Édouard Detaille. The painting, done in oil on canvas, depicts the Battle of Villiers during the Franco-Prussian War. The painting is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Defense of Champigny depicts a scene from the Battle of Villiers (also referred to as the Battle of Champingny) during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. The battle was fought as part of a series of attempts by the French army to disrupt the Prussian army's siege of Paris. At