The Battle of Coulmiers was a significant engagement during the Franco-Prussian War. It took place on November 9, 1870, near the town of Coulmiers in the Loiret department of central France.
Following the fall of Second Empire and the siege of Paris by the Prussian Army, the French government established a new Government of National Defense in Tours. This government sought to organize resistance against the invading forces, leading to the formation of several Armies of the Loire, which included both regular troops and Francs-tireurs (irregular forces).
The Army of the Loire, commanded by General Aurelle de Paladines, moved to engage the Bavarian Army, which was part of the German forces in France. The Bavarians, under the command of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria, were positioned around Coulmiers. The French strategy was to attack the Bavarians to relieve pressure on Paris and to potentially disrupt Prussian supply lines.
The battle commenced with French forces launching a surprise attack early in the morning. Despite being outnumbered, the French managed to push back the Bavarian troops. The Bavarians were caught unprepared, and the French were able to exploit this advantage with a combination of infantry, artillery, and cavalry attacks.