Napoleon's Six Day War: The Battle of Chateau-Thierry

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12 February 1814, the French troops won a third victory in the so-called six-day war of Napoleon. In the area of ​​the town of Chateau-Thierry, Russian-Prussian troops under the command of Osten-Sacken and York were defeated by the French army. The battle of Chateau-Thierry was a continuation of the battle of Monmirale. Napoleon was unable to destroy the Russian-Prussian troops, who with a battle went beyond the river Marne, but was able to turn their forces against the troops of Blucher.

The location of the troops and the balance of power

Taking advantage of the dispersion of the buildings of the Blucher army, Napoleon consistently defeated the Russian 10-thousandth corps of Olsufyev (the Battle of Shampober) and the 11-thousandth Russian Corps of Osten-Sacken (the battle of Monmirala) in succession. Blucher 4 February showed hesitancy and did not attack the French barrier under the command of Marmont. Although, with success, he could hold Napoleon’s forces between two fires: on the one hand, with Kleist and Kaptsevich's corps, and on the other, Osten-Sacken and York. Even with the slight success of Blücher's troops, Napoleon would have had to strengthen Marmont, which would have weakened his onslaught on Osten-Sacken and York.

In the battle of Monmirah, the Russian corps of Osten-Sacken was defeated, but was not defeated, retained its combat capability. At night, they brought the order of Blucher - to retreat beyond Marne and go to Reims, who was appointed as the gathering place for all the corps. In the morning the Russian-Prussian troops retreated behind Vifor, they were protected by the rearguard under the command of General Kaceler.

Having received reinforcements in 2 thousand cavalry, Napoleon decided to develop the pursuit of the retreating Allied forces. Part of the troops the French emperor left in Bie-Mezon to protect the flank. With the rest of the 18, thousands of soldiers in the 9 hours of the morning began the pursuit of the Allies. Ney was advancing along the Montmiraul - Château-Thierry road, and Napoleon on the Bye-Meson - Château-Thierry road, which was not covered.

The allies had the advantage in strength - no less than 17 thousand Prussians, 10-11 thousand Russians. However, the Allied forces were upset by defeat and retreated all night, they were extremely tired. The generals did not dare to oppose Napoleon. Ludwig York offered to immediately transfer all forces to the other side of the Marne and destroy the bridges, but Osten-Sacken, who did not have time to transport artillery and carts, persuaded him to take a position near the village of Les-Cockuret. Here, on both sides of the road, the 1-I and 7-I Prussian brigades under the general command of Horn occupied the defense, in reserve they had the Yurgas cavalry. Troops Horn supported and part of the Russian infantry. 8-I Prussian brigade of Wilhelm is located in the Château-Thierry (Château-Thierry). Here was located part of the Russian infantry and cavalry, covering the withdrawal of artillery and carts.

Napoleon's Six Day War: The Battle of Chateau-Thierry

Napoleon leads the troops in one of the battles of the 6-day war. Lithograph of the XIX century

Battle

Approaching the position of the Allied forces, the French opened heavy artillery fire. Then the infantry lined up in columns and under the cover of artillery, attacked the Prussian order. Napoleon sent four cavalry divisions Laferiera, Denouet, Colbert and Defrance (more than 4 thousand sabers), bypassing the left flank of the Prussian position. The French emperor wanted to cut off the Prussian troops from Château-Thierry. Prussian infantry began to retreat. Prussian cavalry rushed to meet the French. Yurgas built cavalry in two lines. However, the first Prussian line, which for the most part consisted of landwehr, was overturned and mixed the battle orders of the second line. Prussian cavalry also began to depart.

At this critical moment, General Horn ordered to accelerate the withdrawal of troops to Chateau-Thierry, while he himself, with heavy chains of riflemen, supported by the Brandenburg hussars, stopped the French cavalry. Allied forces, forced to retreat through the gorge, cut by deep moats, stuck in the mud, suffered significant losses. Two damaged guns and a howitzer went to the French.

The Tambov and Kostroma regiments under the command of Heydenreich, who held the defensive on the far right flank, found themselves in a difficult situation. During the retreat of the Prussian troops, they were attacked by a convoy of the French emperor. The Russian regiments, who suffered great losses in the battle of Monmirah, lined up on two small squares on the orders of Heidenreich and covered themselves with a rifle chain. However, the French cavalry was able to disperse the shooters and smash the square. Part of the soldiers, along with General Heidenreich captured, others were hacked. Some of the soldiers who were able to hide in the forest were able to get through to their own. The French seized three guns that were in the regiments.

The French pursued their allies in two directions. Ney's cavalry headed for the right flank to cut the road to Epernay, while Mortier and the infantry advanced on the montraliste road to Château-Thierry. Napoleon sought to complete the rout of the Allied forces.

The Prussian 1 Brigade suffered heavy losses during the retreat, especially the grenadiers. Two landver battalions were completely destroyed. The Prussians threw three guns stuck in the mud, which were seized by the French. The retreat of the troops across the town and the bridges to the right bank of the River Marne was conducted first under the protection of the 8 Prussian Brigade of William, and then two battalions of the 2 East Prussian Regiment. The Allied forces were able to repel several French attacks, holding positions until all the other troops, artillery and carts were sent across the Marne. Then they crossed to the other side of the river and lit up both bridges behind them. From the other side, Prussian and Russian batteries, which were protected by Russian huntsmen, covered the rear of the rear guard. The Allied forces, after a short rest at Château-Thierry, withdrew on the same day on their way to Soissons. To observe the enemy, the Cossack detachment of Karpov remained.


"Campaign 6-days" by Napoleon. Day three, February 12 1814.

Battle results

The battle ended extremely unsuccessfully for the Allied forces, who could not organize a strong defense, having superiority in forces, and suffered significant losses. The retreat in the conditions of superiority of the enemy in the cavalry led to great losses. Russian troops lost about 1,5 thousand people, 3 guns (according to other data 8-10 guns), and a significant part of the convoy. Prussian troops lost about 1,3 thousand people, 6 guns. The French have lost 400-600 people.

Both sides, as is the case with defeats, accused each other. The Russians believed that the Prussian corps could have come earlier in February 11. With the joint efforts of two fresh corps, having superiority over the enemy in numbers, a more acceptable result could be achieved in the battle at Monmirah. Prussian generals complained about the Russians that they had little support during their departure from the position of Les-Coquuret to Chateau-Thierry.

However, apparently, both sides were wrong. February 11 York just did not have time to go to the beginning of the battle. And on February 12, the Russian corps was in an upset state. 11 February he led a hard battle, the troops of Osten-Sacken participated in the battle all the last battalion and squadron. At night, the corps retreated through forests and swamps that were considered impassable for the army, while saving almost all the artillery. The soldiers were exhausted by the battle, retreat through the marshes, did not sleep. In addition, the losses that the Allies suffered on February 12 are comparable. If the 1-I Prussian brigade was defeated, two landwehr battalions were completely destroyed, the Russians lost two regiments. The Tambov and Kostroma regiments in the battle of Chateau-Thierry lay bones.

It is necessary to note the inaction of Blucher, which was located in the Berger area. For two days he was passive. February 11 had two corps - Kleist and Kaptsevich, and the remnants of Olsufyev’s crushed corps (about 16-18 thousand bayonets). He was confronted by Marmont with 6-8 thousand people. The French stood at Etozh. Blucher, justifying himself with a lack of cavalry, did not take active steps, although he could hit the enemy on February 11. On this day, the Allies could attack the French army from three directions: Blucher from Berger-Etoge, York - from Chateau-Thierry, Osten-Sacken - from Laferte and Bier-Mezon. However, the lucky moment was missed. Napoleon was allowed to separate the body of Osten-Sacken separately. February 12 also did nothing. Only 13 February, when the cavalry units arrived, Blucher decided to hit Marmon.

Apparently, Blücher's indecision was associated with the aura of the great commander who surrounded Napoleon. If Suvorov had been in the place of Blucher, he, having 16 thousand bayonets, would not have been inactive, but would have hit the enemy decisively.


Ludwig York von Wartenberg (1759 - 1830).

Further events

After the retreat of the Allied forces beyond the Marne, the French could not immediately continue the pursuit; it was necessary to restore the crossings at Chateau-Thierry. Napoleon hoped that MacDonald’s troops, quickly moving along the right bank of the river, would be able to complete the rout of the Osten-Sacken and York corps. However, McDonald, busy with training replenishment, did not take decisive action to prosecute the enemy. He sent only part of Saint-Germain's cavalry, and without artillery, and she could not achieve much success in the pursuit of the allies. Therefore, the troops of Osten-Sacken and York rather quietly retreated.

The retreat to Reims was hard for the Allied forces. York in a report to the commander wrote February 14 that the troops were very tired, the uniform of soldiers in poor condition, a lot of people lagged behind, the loss of half of the corps. The level of discipline in the troops has decreased. The transports, where Prussian soldiers loaded a variety of property, increased excessively. This seriously reduced the speed of movement of troops, the room for maneuver. York had to take emergency measures to restore discipline in the troops. The supply of troops has seriously deteriorated. For the requisition of provisions, it was necessary to detach considerable forces. The local population was extremely embittered. Peasants left their villages, townships, devastated houses, drove livestock and hid in the forests.

February 13, having restored the bridges across the Marne, Napoleon sent Marshal Mortier in pursuit of the divisions of Michel (Christian), Kolbe and Defrance, 6 in total, thousand people. At the same time, Napoleon began to strengthen his army with units of the National Guard, arming volunteers with rifles repulsed from the enemy. The local population, embittered by requisition and excited by exaggerated rumors about Napoleon's victories, began to actively support the army.

Napoleon himself did not pursue York and Osten-Sacken; on February 13, he received a report from Marmon on the launch of Blucher’s troops against him. Napoleon decided to return to Monmirale and defeat the forces of Blucher. 16-thousand MacDonald's corps was ordered to move into the valley of the Seine.

February 13 Blucher, waiting for the arrival of two cavalry regiments from Kleist's corps, launched an offensive against Marmont's troops. The French did not accept the battle and went to Fromentyer. February 14 hosted the last battle of Napoleon’s six-day war: the battle of Voshan. The onset of Blucher belatedly. Napoleon had already freed his forces from the struggle with the troops of Osten-Sacken and York, and could by all means attack Blucher.


Napoleon in the 1814 campaign. French painter Jean-Louis Ernest Masoni

To be continued ...
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5 comments
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  1. +5
    12 February 2014 08: 54
    There were wars, corps, divisions, regiments, squadrons shied around, periodically beating each other. No lines of defense, solid fronts. Probably the last knightly war.
  2. +4
    12 February 2014 09: 39
    And all this is some 200 years ago ..
  3. +1
    12 February 2014 13: 16
    Suvorov is our everything.
  4. +1
    12 February 2014 13: 26
    the articles were written explicitly from French translated sources with additives if there were SUVOROV in place of Blucher It was necessary to start with the words of the agony of the Napoleonic army, after 1,5 months Napoleon Otreksya, Blucher was subordinate to Schwarzenberg and was constrained by this,
  5. +2
    12 February 2014 19: 01
    The last knightly war, in my opinion, is August 1914.

    The offensive of the Germans in France and ours in East Prussia.

    Then they will bury themselves in the ground, use weapons of mass destruction, etc.

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