Failly, Pierre Louis Charles de

Failly, Pierre Louis Charles de (pyĕr lwē shärl də fāyē`), 1810–92, French general. He fought in Algeria, in the Crimean War, and at Magenta and Solferino (1859) in the Italian War. Heading the French expeditionary forces to protect the Papal States, he defeated Giuseppe Garibaldi at Mentana (1867). In this campaign the Chassepot rifle was first used. In the Franco-Prussian War, Failly commanded the right wing of General MacMahon's army at Sedan (1870). The disastrous outcome of that battle is largely ascribed to Failly's tactics.