Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: N'ịlaghachi na Europe, na nzaghachi nye ọgba aghara aghụghọ sitere n'aka Chancellor Bismarck, nzuko omeiwu France mere ntuli aka ikwupụta agha megide Prussia na 19 July 1870. Ndị otu Lambert hụrụ onwe ha nso Sedan ebe onye isi ndị France bụ Marshal de MacMahon kpebiri itinye uche na akụ ndị agha iji gbochie ọganihu ndị agha Prussia na-atụ anya na Belgium. Ka ọ na-erule oge a, Lambert na-eje ozi na 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment ("2e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine") nke mejupụtara akụkụ nke a na-akpọ Blue Division nke n'ọtụtụ ọgụ ọgụ n'oge Agha Sedan buru ibu jidere ma mesịa
weghachiri Bazeilles n'aka I Royal Bavarian Corps n'okpuru iwu nke General von der Thann.