February 914 1814 Strategic Context Despite being soundly defeated at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813 Napoleon Bonaparte turns down offers of peace from the Allied Sixth Coalition which comprises virtually every major European power The Allies invade northeastern France with three p ID: 542924
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Slide1
Six Days February 9-14, 1814
Strategic Context
Despite being soundly defeated at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813, Napoleon Bonaparte turns down offers of peace from the Allied Sixth Coalition, which comprises virtually every major European power. The Allies invade northeastern France with three powerful armies, the most powerful forces Bonaparte has yet to face. Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte’s Army of the North advances through the Low Countries, Gebhard Leberect von Blücher’s Army of Silesia advances through Lorraine and Karl Philipp Furst zu Schwarzenberg’s Army of Bohemia advances through the Belfort Gap. All converge on Paris when they cross the borders of France. The Allied commanders are eager to push on to Paris, especially Blücher who also seeks to destroy Marshal MacDonald’s corps stationed at La Ferte. Bonaparte leaves Marshals Oudinot and Victor to screen Schwarzenberg and takes command of a striking force to destroy Blücher.
Stakes
+ A French victory would send the Army of Silesia reeling, buying time for the hard-pressed Grande Armée on the defensive.+ An Allied victory would allow the Army of Silesia and Bohemia to race to Paris against minor opposition.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
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Six Days, 1814Strength
Grande Armée
Well
Allied Army of Silesia
Well
Napoleon Bonaparte
57,000 (237,000 overall)
31,000 (83,000 overall)
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
By Jonathan Webb, 2009Slide3
Europe c.1814Slide4
Allied Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
The battlefield is relatively flat but maneuver is slowed by the muddy ground from previous days’ rain, even when traveling on roads. The battlefield features a large number of major rivers, mostly running east-west. There are scattered towns throughout the battlefield (not shown); the most important city is Paris to the west, which is the Allied objective. The French objective is the Allied Army of Silesia itself and not any terrain feature.
0
5
10 km
Paris
Oise River
Aisne River
Meuse River
Seine River
Marne RiverSlide5
SACKEN
KAPZEVITSCH
YORCK
KLEIST
WINZINGERODE
OLSSUFIEV
BONAPARTE
OUDINOT
MACDONALD
VICTOR
Allied Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Army of Bohemia
(Schwarzenberg)
Army of the North
(Bernadotte)
SACKEN
KAPZEVITSCH
YORCK
KLEIST
OLSSUFIEV
BONAPARTE
OUDINOT
MACDONALD
VICTOR
Schwarzenberg’s Army of Bohemia is concentrated in seven corps south of the Seine River, Bernadotte’s Army of the North is still far to the north, and Blücher’s Army of Silesia is dispersed in five corps north of the Marne River. Blücher travels with his two eastern corps; he expects Bonaparte will fight a decisive battle just north of the Seine River near Victor’s position. Bonaparte’s army is comprised of four separate forces: Victor and Oudinot watch Schwarzenberg, MacDonald serves as bait to Blücher while Bonaparte himself commands the strike force in the center. Bonaparte is well aware of Blücher’s two corps dangerously far east, unable to support the rest of his force, and plans
Blücher receives reports that Bonaparte is traveling northeast rather than east and changes the marching orders of his corps, causing a slight delay. Kleist and Kapzevitsch march southwest supposedly towards Bonaparte and Sacken carries on the pursuit of MacDonald so Yorck can march south to eventually envelop Bonaparte from the west. In reality, Bonaparte is marching northeast but towards Olssufiev – and fast as the local populace turns out to haul artillery through the mud. Bonaparte and Olssufiev collide at Champaubert.
Allied Army of Silesia
(Gebhart Leberecht von Blücher)
57,000
(237,000 overall)
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
31,000
(83,000 overall)
Strengths
Landmarks
Strengths
0
5
10 km
Paris
Oise River
Aisne River
Meuse River
Seine River
Marne River
Bonaparte – 31,000
MacDonald – 13,000
Oudinot – 25,000
Victor – 14,000
Kapzevitsch – 11,000
Kleist – 11,000
Olssufiev – 5,000
Sacken – 18,000
Schwarzenberg – 150,000
Winzingerode – 30,000
Yorck – 18,000Slide6
The battlefield consists of relatively open, flat terrain centered on Champaubert, a small town at the crossroads. After steady rain for a few days previously, the ground is very muddy.
Allied Army of Silesia
(Olssufiev)
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
0
2
4 kmSlide7
Olssufiev opts to stand his ground in front of the town despite being severely outnumbered, likely a result of his poor performance earlier in the theater and standing with Blücher. Bonaparte deploys his army in two wings, each with their own strong cavalry arm. Ney and Marmont command the left and right wings respectively.
Bonaparte orders a general attack to crush Olssufiev’s position from all angles; French infantry engage the Allies frontally while Ney’s cavalry smashes Olssufiev’s right flank. Meanwhile, Marmont’s cavalry sweeps behind Olssufiev’s left flank to cut the road east to Kleist and Kapzevitsch. In any event, those two corps hear sounds of battle in their march southwest but do not change course.
Olssufiev leaves a small contingent to defend the town and orders a retreat but it is too late as Marmont blocks the road east. Ney hits the Allies in rear and the majority, including Olssufiev, are compelled to surrender.
Ney
Marmont
Allied Army of Silesia
(Olssufiev)
Allied Army of Silesia
(Zakhar Dmitrievich Olssufiev)
5,000
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
24,000
0
2
4 km
Symbol guide
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Grande Armée Allied Army of Silesia
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry CavalrySlide8
WINZINGERODE
Army of Bohemia
(Schwarzenberg)
Army of the North
(Bernadotte)
SACKEN
KAPZEVITSCH
YORCK
KLEIST
MORTIER
OUDINOT
VICTOR
With Olssufiev’s corps being annihilated, Bonaparte’s striking force occupies the central position between two pairs of Allied corps. Bonaparte divides his force into three parts: Marmont commands a relatively small force to monitor Kleist and Kapzevitsch’s progress while Nansouty and Mortier command roughly equal forces to confront Yorck and Sacken.
NANSOUTY
MARMONT
Winzingerode’s corps from Bernadotte’s Army of the North continues its advance towards the theater and Schwarzenberg advances west, expecting little resistance. Yorck and Sacken march towards each other but set the meeting point too far east, leaving little time for Kleist and Kapzevitsch to march to their aid. Bonaparte sends Nansouty and Mortier west to battle Yorck and Sacken while MacDonald is to march east to cut off their retreat north. Nansouty and Sacken collide at Montrimail.
WINZINGERODE
KAPZEVITSCH
YORCK
KLEIST
MORTIER
MACDONALD
NANSOUTY
MACDONALD
MARMONT
Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
SACKEN
Allied Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Allied Army of Silesia
(Gebhart Leberecht von Blücher)
57,000
(237,000 overall)
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
31,000
(83,000 overall)
Strengths
Strengths
Landmarks
0
5
10 km
Paris
Oise River
Aisne River
Meuse River
Seine River
Marne River
Nansouty – 10,500
MacDonald – 13,000
Marmont – 4,000
Mortier – 9,500
Oudinot – 25,000
Victor – 14,000
Kapzevitsch – 11,000
Kleist – 11,000
Sacken – 18,000
Schwarzenberg – 150,000
Winzingerode – 30,000
Yorck – 18,000Slide9
The battlefield is relatively open and flat, closed in from the south by the Little Morin River. The major urban features are the small towns of Chateau Thierry to the north and Montmirail to the southeast. The ground is still moderately soggy from the previous days’ rain, making control of the road network essential to any rapid maneuver.
Allied Army of Silesia
(Sacken/Yorck)
0
1
2 km
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Chateau Thierry
Little Morin River
MontmirailSlide10
Mortier
Nansouty
Sacken
Yorck
Only Nansouty and Sacken are fully deployed to begin the battle, well west of Montrimail. Yorck is still marching southeast towards Chateau Theirry while Mortier is set to arrive very soon, marching west. Nansouty must merely hold out until Mortier’s forces arrive.
With the arrival of Mortier’s force, Bonaparte seeks to prevent any junction between Yorck and Sacken. Bonaparte uses his cavalry and elite Imperial Guard to smash Sacken’s left flank, pushing the entire front backwards. Sacken’s force begins to break and is saved only by the arrival of a small fraction of Yorck’s force. Bonaparte has sufficient forces to pressure Sacken and block Yorck’s advance.
Sacken, with only spotty information regarding Yorck’s progress, launches repeated attacks to break the French lines before their reinforcements can arrive. Sacken succeeds in pushing the French front backwards towards Montmirail but Bonaparte maintains a steady defensive; he launches limited counterattacks on his left wing to throw the Allied attack off balance. Mortier’s force also reaches the battlefield.
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
20,000
0
1
2 km
Symbol guide
Grande Armée Allied Army of Silesia
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Allied Army of Silesia
(Sacken/Yorck)
Landmarks
Cheteau Thierry
Little Morin River
Montmirail
Allied Army of Silesia
(Fabian Gottlieb von Osten-Sacken/Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg)
36,000Slide11
Mortier
Nansouty
Sacken
Yorck
Mortier
Nansouty
Sacken
Yorck
Bonaparte relentlessly pursues Sacken’s shattered force while decimating Yorck’s advance guard. Sacken calls for help but Yorck can do nothing; Sacken must organize a rearguard just to allow the rest of his force to take a long detour back towards Yorck. The two forces eventually link up near Chateau Thierry and flee north.
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
20,000
0
1
2 km
Symbol guide
Grande Armée Allied Army of Silesia
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Allied Army of Silesia
(Sacken/Yorck)
Landmarks
Cheteau Thierry
Little Morin River
Montmirail
Allied Army of Silesia
(Fabian Gottlieb von Osten-Sacken/Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg)
36,000Slide12
Army of Bohemia
(Schwarzenberg)
Army of the North
(Bernadotte)
MORTIER
OUDINOT
VICTOR
WINZINGERODE
SACKEN
KAPZEVITSCH
YORCK
KLEIST
MACDONALD
GROUCHY
MARMONT
Yorck and Sacken escape over the Marne River to the dismay of Bonaparte, who had hoped MacDonald would have marched east with great speed and blocked their way. Mortier is left in command of a force to pursue Yorck and Sacken while the rest reside under Grouchy’s command. Schwarzenberg establishes a foothold across the Siene River which Oudinot and Victor cannot prevent.
Mortier’s pontoon bridge equipment does not arrive in time to effectively pursue Yorck and Sacken but Winzingerode is approaching anyways, making pursuit impractical. Victor is forced to join Oudinot as Schwarzenberg advances while Bonaparte orders MacDonald south to support them. Kleist and Kapzevitsch, accompanied by Blücher, march west. Grouchy hurriedly approaches from the northwest to meet Marmont who is retiring in the face of Blücher’s advance.
MORTIER
VICTOR
WINZINGERODE
SACKEN
KAPZEVITSCH
YORCK
KLEIST
MACDONALD
GROUCHY
MARMONT
Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Allied Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Allied Army of Silesia
(Gebhart Leberecht von Blücher)
57,000
(237,000 overall)
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
31,000
(83,000 overall)
Grouchy – 19,000
MacDonald – 13,000
Marmont – 4,000
Mortier – 6,000
Oudinot – 25,000
Victor – 14,000
Strengths
Kapzevitsch – 11,000
Kleist – 11,000
Sacken – 12,000
Schwarzenberg – 150,000
Winzingerode – 30,000
Yorck – 17,000
Strengths
OUDINOT
Landmarks
0
5
10 km
Paris
Oise River
Aisne River
Meuse River
Seine River
Marne RiverSlide13
Army of Bohemia
(Schwarzenberg)
Army of the North
(Bernadotte)
OUDINOT
MacDonald and Mortier continue south and north respectively. Yorck and Sacken retire northeast, making contact with Winzingerode. Kleist and Kapzevitsch continue west and collide with Marmont and Grouchy – just arrived – at Vauchamps.
MORTIER
VICTOR
WINZINGERODE
SACKEN
KAPZEVITSCH
YORCK
KLEIST
MACDONALD
GROUCHY
MARMONT
Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
MORTIER
WINZINGERODE
SACKEN
KAPZEVITSCH
YORCK
KLEIST
MACDONALD
GROUCHY
Allied Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Allied Army of Silesia
(Gebhart Leberecht von Blücher)
57,000
(237,000 overall)
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
31,000
(83,000 overall)
Grouchy – 19,000
MacDonald – 13,000
Marmont – 4,000
Mortier – 6,000
Oudinot – 25,000
Victor – 14,000
Strengths
Kapzevitsch – 11,000
Kleist – 11,000
Sacken – 12,000
Schwarzenberg – 150,000
Winzingerode – 30,000
Yorck – 17,000
OUDINOT
VICTOR
MARMONT
Strengths
Landmarks
0
5
10 km
Paris
Oise River
Aisne River
Meuse River
Seine River
Marne RiverSlide14
The battlefield is relatively flat and open centered on the small town of Vauchamps. The only significant features are a small forest to the southwest and the Little Morin River to the south. Once again, given the muddy terrain, the key terrain is the few roads, which only run east-west.
Allied Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Little Morin River
Vauchamps
0
1
2 kmSlide15
Blücher deploys his forces as they arrive; Kleist is in position across the main road while Kapzevitsch is nearly at the front, marching westwards. Bonaparte deploys his infantry across the main road under Marmont while taking personal command of the elite Imperial Guard, held in reserve. Bonaparte deploys his cavalry under Grouchy far to the north, unknown to Blücher.
Despite the imminent arrival of Kapzevitsch’s forces, Kleist carelessly attacks the French line. Before the attack can make any progress, Grouchy’s cavalry smash Kleist’s right flank and the force is in danger of being trapped and destroyed. Meanwhile, Kapzevitsch hurries to reach the front.
Kapzevitsch’s forces reach the battle as Kleist’s right wing is completely annihilated by Grouchy’s cavalry charge and Marmont’s infantry counterattack. Bonaparte prepares the Imperial Guard to engage the Allied reinforcements; Blücher sees the tall fur caps of the elite French formation and orders a retreat. He is unaware that part of Grouchy’s cavalry blocks the main road east.
Marmont
Kleist
Grouchy
Kapzevitsch
The rest of Grouchy’s cavalry gets ahead of Blücher’s retreating forces but thick mud prevent the horse artillery from taking part in the subsequent engagement. This allows Blücher’s desperate attacks to break through the trap. Marmont continues the pursuit and later wipes out the Allied rearguard, covering the retreat.
Marmont
Grouchy
Allied Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Allied Army of Silesia
(Gebhart Leberecht von Blücher)
22,000
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
25,000
0
1
2 km
Symbol guide
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Landmarks
Little Morin River
Vauchamps
Grande Armée Allied Army of Silesia
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry CavalrySlide16
Army of Bohemia
(Schwarzenberg)
Army of the North
(Bernadotte)
OUDINOT
VICTOR
KAPZEVITSCH
KLEIST
GROUCHY
MARMONT
Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
MORTIER
WINZINGERODE
SACKEN
YORCK
MACDONALD
Blücher’s Army of Silesia is in retreat on all fronts, the two pairs of corps eager to reunite north of the Marne River with Winzingerode from the Army of the North. Mortier, Grouchy and Marmont pursue this defeated force. Schwarzenberg’s Army of Bohemia is entrenched across the Seine River. MacDonald, Victor and Oudinot are loosely combined to oppose this massive force.
Allied Army of Silesia
(Blücher)
Grande Armée
(Bonaparte)
Allied Army of Silesia
(Gebhart Leberecht von Blücher)
57,000
(237,000 overall)
Grande Armée
(Napoleon Bonaparte)
31,000
(83,000 overall)
Grouchy – 19,000
MacDonald – 13,000
Marmont – 4,000
Mortier – 6,000
Oudinot – 25,000
Victor – 14,000
Strengths
Kapzevitsch – 10,000
Kleist – 5,000
Sacken – 12,000
Schwarzenberg – 150,000
Winzingerode – 30,000
Yorck – 17,000
Strengths
Landmarks
0
5
10 km
Paris
Oise River
Aisne River
Meuse River
Seine River
Marne RiverSlide17
Champaubert | Grande Armée: 200 or <1% Allied Army of Silesia: 4,000 or 80%
Montmirail-Chateau Thierry | Grande Armée: 2,500 or 13% Allied Army of Silesia: 7,000 or 19%
Vauchamps | Grande Armée: 600 or 2% Allied Army of Silesia: 7,000 or 32%
Overall | Grande Armée: 4,000 or 13% Allied Army of Silesia: 20,000 or 35%
Six Days, 1814Casualties & Aftermath
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
Schwarzenberg advanced steadily towards Paris, not yet fortified. Bonaparte did not trust his three subordinates blocking the way to Paris to gain him even four days to finish off Blücher. Blücher had been soundly defeated and Allied high command rattled psychologically but Bonaparte’s victory was short-lived. Within five days, reinforcements arrived to replace the Army of Silesia’s losses and the Allies resumed the offensive. Faced against overwhelming forces, Bonaparte abdicated on April 6, 1814.Slide18
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2009