SAARBRUCK TO SEDAN: The Franco-German War 1870-1871 V1 - Uniforms, Organisation and Weapons of the Armies of the Imperial Phase of the War

Describes how the armies were organized, equipped, uniformed, and supplied. Equipment is described as well as the medals many men wore on their chests. The color section illustrates many of the lesser known uniforms worn during the war. Technical innovations changed the way armies behaved in the field, railways speeded up movement, the telegraph delivered orders in a fraction of the time, and new weapons altered tactics used on the battlefield. Developments in armaments were not limited to the French, the chassepot rifle was a marvel and the mitrailleuse (a volley gun) could have been a war winner if used properly. The Bavarians had a mitrailleuse of their own design and they developed a modern rifle firing a metallic cartridge at a rate of 20 shots a minute. Includes 41 b/w illustrations, 20 pages of color plates, three maps, and six tables.