Colonel Andre commanded 12th Regiment d'Artillere Divisionnaire, and as the highest-ranking officer in Mauberge Sector he became over all commander there as the French units around him started disintegrating. His artillery batteries did their best to hold back the German advance so others could escape, but slowly Groupement Andre was forced to retreat as well. Abandonging the Boussois fort to the relative safety. Unfortunately, the first leg of the way out was northward toward the Belgian border, and there he met the Germans again.

While entering Blaregnies the head of the French column encountered a German outpost, and with desperate energy the French pushed back the opposition and took the village. That night, Colonel Andre gave the order to escape to the west. Unfortunately, the German 1st Infantry had encircled Blaregnies in the darkness, and when the French encountered them Col. Andre ordered them to break out to the north and south. It was to no avail; Col. Andre was killed in the initial encounter with the Germans, and by 0600 the Germans were ready to counterattack. Four hours later, with no ammunition left, the remaining French troops launched a bayonet charge in an attempt to exit the pocket to Valenciennes. The stunned Germans gave way at first, but with German reinforcements on the way it didn't matter. Only small groups of French troops escaped.