Antoine Eugene Alfred Chanzy, a French soldier, born at Nouart, Ardennes, March 18, 1823. He enlisted in his 16th year as a cabin boy on a man-of-war. The next year he returned to school, and subsequently studied at the military academy of St. Cyr. He served in Algeria under Canrobert, and in 1859 distinguished himself in the battle of Solferino, Italy, where he became lieutenant colonel. He rejoined the service in Algeria, and in 18G8 attained the rank of brigadier general. In the Franco-German war he was general of division of the 16th corps in the army of the Loire, under Aurelle de Paladines. He proposed to prevent the junction of the German armies, defeat them in detail, and march on Paris; but his plan was not adopted. During the protracted struggle before Orleans, he attacked the Germans on Dec. 1, 1870, and gained some indecisive successes in the vicinity of Patay; but the next day he was assailed by the grand duke of Mecklenburg and Gen. Von der Tann, lost ground after a bloody engagement, and was obliged to retreat on Dec, 3. The disastrous defeat of the army of the Loire was chiefly ascribed to the isolation of the 18th and 20th corps, and to Prince Frederick Charles's availing himself, by a decisive stroke, of their immobility, to mass his troops against the French centre.

Chanzy was now appointed commander-in-chief of the so-called second army of the Loire, thus dividing with Bourbaki, appointed to the head of the first army, the former command of Aurelle de Paladines. He made a vigorous stand at Meung and Beaugency, in order to cover Tours; but was soon forced to abandon the line of the Loire, and after various desperate conflicts between that river and the Sarthe, he was overwhelmingly defeated before Le Mans, Jan. 12, 1871, and told the government that it was impossible to continue the war. The projects of Chanzy were regarded as brilliant and skilful, but both he and Aurelle de Paladines were obliged to follow the instructions of the political authorities. Chanzy became a member of the national assembly at Bordeaux and Versailles, and published in 1871 La deuxieme armee de la Loire (4th ed., April, 1872), in vindication of his generalship and of the bravery of his troops. In September, 1872, he was appointed commander of the 7th army corps at Tours, and in 1873, under President MacMahon, governor general of Algeria.