Napoleon 1813: Decision at Bautzen

Napoleon 1813: Decision at Bautzen by James Arnold

By James R. Arnold

Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Napoleon Books (2015)
ISBN-10: 0967098580
ISBN-13: 978-0967098586
Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 1.8 inches
Price: $60.00 plus postage

On June 22, 1812, 430,000 soldiers commanded by Emperor Napoleon I invaded Russia. Few doubted that this enormous force would topple the Russian empire. Among the dissenters were a determined group of Russians and Prussians whose hatred of the upstart ‘Corsican’ emperor knew few bounds. The fate of Europe trembled in the balance during the summer days of 1812. In an amazing reversal of fortune, Russia defeated the vaunted Grande Armée and sent the invading legions back where they had come from. The combination of terrible French logistical planning, weather, and an adamant foe destroyed the Grande Armée. Conditions became so bad that Napoleon abandoned his army to return to France.

Upon his arrival in Paris, the battle-fatigued emperor set about creating a new army. He exhibited his prodigious talents to build, seemingly from thin air, a force that outnumbered his foe. He drew upon France’s enormous patriotism to fill the ranks with young men willing to give their all to emulate the soldiers who had served before them. Even his allied states contributed thousands of fresh recruits. It was no fault of their own that they failed. Rather, their leaders were unequal to the task at hand. Meanwhile, their opponents, most importantly the Prussians, fought with splendid zeal to restore their tainted heritage.

Napoleon 1813 describes and explains Napoleon’s efforts to recover from the catastrophe of 1812. It dismisses many conventional myths regarding the spring campaign of 1813. Was Ney to blame for the campaign’s failure? What role did Napoleon’s lack of cavalry play? Did one of history’s ‘Great Captains’ have a realistic chance to preserve his reign? On the allied side, the role of Prussia is described, including the critical contribution of the much-scorned Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III. Blücher and the Prussian General Staff emerge with relentless determination to fight the French. Their distrust of the Russians and their own blunders threaten to unravel the Russo-Prussian alliance. At the heart of the allied effort is Tsar Alexander. His messianic vision to bring down the French emperor works at odds with his decision to usurp command of the allied armies from the military professionals. Throughout the story of the tumultuous spring days, Napoleon 1813 gives voice to the soldiers who participated in a campaign that proved Napoleon’s last, best chance to preserve his dynasty.

464 pages including 35 maps, 71 illustrations, and two appendices.

Table of Contents

  • Introduction: June 24, 1812
  • Prologue
  • Chapter I. Alexander’s Vision
    • Part 1. The Defection of General Yorck
    • Part 2. Eugène’s Trials
  • Chapter II. A New Army
    • Part 1. Conscripts, Cohorts, and Navy Gunners
    • Part 2. The Cavalry Problem
  • Chapter III. The Allied Armies
    • Part 1. The Tsar’s Army
    • Part 2. The King’s Army
  • Chapter IV. The Battle of Möckern
  • Chapter V. Convergence on Saxony
    • Part 1. Sojourn in Mayence
    • Part 2. Problems of Command
  • Chapter VI. The March to Lützen
    • Part 1. The Challenge of Coordination
    • Part 2. Death of a Comrade
  • Chapter VII. The Fate of Germany
    • Part 1. Approach March
    • Part 2. Reconnaissance
    • Part 3. First Contacts
  • Chapter VIII. Surprise Attack
    • Part 1. The Botched Deployments
    • Part 2. The Killing Box
    • Part 3. To the Sound of the Guns
  • Chapter IX. A French Victory
    • Part 1. The Master Arrives
    • Part 2. East of the Floss-Graben
    • Part 3. Napoleon’s Counterstroke
  • Chapter X. Lützen Aftermath
    • Part 1. Confusion in the Dark
    • Part 2. Battle Assessment
  • Chapter XI. On to Dresden
    • Part 1. A Barren Pursuit
    • Part 2. The Last Capital
    • Part 3. Resetting the Pieces
  • Chapter XII. Convergence on Bautzen
    • Part 1. The Decision to Fight
    • Part 2. The Combats of Königswartha and Weissig
  • Chapter XIII. The First Day at Bautzen
    • Part 1. Pinning Attack
    • Part 2. Wittgenstein’s Revenge
  • Chapter XIV. Decision at Bautzen
    • Part 1. Battle in the Morning
    • Part 2. The Struggle for Preititz
    • Part 3. Napoleon Attacks
  • Chapter XV. Austria in the Balance
    • Part 1. Battle’s Aftermath
    • Part 2. Death of a Friend
    • Part 3. Change of Command
  • Chapter XVI. End Game
    • Part 1. The Truce
    • Part 2. Pass in Review
    • Part 3. Checkmate
  • Appendix I. French Order of Battle
  • Appendix II. Russo-Prussian Order of Battle
  • Bibliography
  • Index

Detailed Orders of Battle

For the true buffs, we provide appendices complete with army composition and organization and orders of battle. From Appendix I. French Order of Battle:

III Corps April 25, 1813 ~ Commander: Marshal Michel Ney ~ Chief of Staff: Gouré
8th Division Souham 1st Brigade Chasseraux 6th Léger provisional
10th Léger prov.
14th Léger prov.
10th Léger prov.		 2
2
2
2		 36
36
39
37		 1,662
1,541
1,558
1,258
2nd Brigade Chemineau 21st Ligne provisional
24th Ligne prov.
22nd Ligne		 2
2
4		 32
34
79		 1,572
1,555
3,088
artillery 387 16 pieces
engineers Spanish sappers 187
train 61
division total: 13,103
9th Division Brenier 1st Brigade Anthing 2nd Léger prov.
29th Léger
136th Ligne		 2
1
4		 35
19
77		 1,177
659
2,709
2nd Brigade Grillot 138th Ligne
145th Ligne		 4
4		 86
92		 2,709
1,925
artillery 5 349 16 pieces
engineers Spanish sappers 2 163
train 1 28
division total: 9,398
10th Division Girard 1st Brigade Goris 4th Léger provisional
139th Ligne		 2
4		 38
98		 1,012
2,353
2nd Brigade Van Dedem 140th Ligne
141st Ligne		 4
4		 78
82		 2,537
1,923
artillery 7 358 16 pieces
engineers Spanish sappers 3 178
train Spanish sappers 29
division total: 9,719
11th Division Ricard 1st Brigade Tarayre 9th Léger
17th Ligne prov.
18th Ligne prov.		 2
2
2		 27
33
29		 1,218
1,376
1,139
2nd Brigade Dumoulin 142nd Ligne
144th Ligne		 4
4		 89
94		 2,008
1,940
artillery 3 367 16 pieces
engineers Spanish sappers 2 181
train 1 28
division total: 8,506
39th Division Marchand Baden Brigade
GM Stockhorn		 Grande Duc No. 3
Stockhorn No. 1		 2
1		 29
14		 1,658
664
Hessen Brigade
Prince Emile		 1st Léger
2nd Ligne
Guard		 2
2
2		 19
37
30		 1,315
1,242
1,250
Frankfort Brigade Regiment Zweyer 1 16 676
artillery Baden
Hessen		 3
1		 127
119		 4 pieces
3 pieces
division total: 7,200
Cavalry Brigade
Laboissière		 10th Hussars
Baden Dragoons		 3
4		 32
26		 685
474
corps troops engineers
gendarmes
train		 10th Hussars
Baden Dragoons		 7
2
1		 387
48
117		 corps artillery not yet arrived
III Corps total: 48,593; 71 pieces