Back in France, Lorencez was made Grand Officier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1866, but still in disgrace, he was only inspector general from 1864-1870. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, Lorencez at first in charge of a garrison in Toulouse until the 56 aged general was transferred into command of a wartime division, similar in size, 6,000 men, to his previous army in Mexico. His 3rd division was part of IV corps, part of the Army of the Rhine which saw no real action at the beginning of the war. Later, the corps fell under the command of Marshal François Bazaine in his senior role over the Rhine armies. His division finally saw action at Borny on the 14th of August, where he helped reinforce the French left wing later helping to take back Nouilly thus stretching the Prussian’s right wing contributing their withdrawal. However, when his division was last to arrive near the battlefield at Lessy, Lorencez division was not present for the Battle of Mars-la-Tour just 2 days later. On the 18th, Lorencez was captured during the massive Battle of Gravelotte, the biggest battle of the war, strongly defending the French center, south of St. Privat, at Amanvillers and inflicting heavy casualties on the repulsed Prussian guard and 9th corps, part of Bazaine's breakout attempts before the Siege of Metz (1870). His contraction of yellow fever in Mexico compelled him to retire from active service two years later. He later died in his recently acquired Chateau Laas, which he gained in 1885 through his wife's noble connections, and on 16 July 1892 and left behind a son Etienne Latrille de Lorencez and another daughter, Germaine Latrille de Lorencez and his wife Euphémie Caroline M Pouyanne. He also left his mistress, the Comtesse Emilia Alvarez de Perez and their daughter the Comtesse Emilia Latrille de Lorencez. His home of Chateau Laas would continue to have Lorencez's flag carved into it.