BATTLE REPORT - Ulm-Austerlitz 1805

BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ-II



Bonaparte arose from his brief rest and greeted his staff with-'Now gentlemen,let us go and begin a grand day'.A thick fog covered the whole battlefield.He gave his final instructions to his assembled marhslas who then departed to their individual commands.The allied army had begun to move into its position from 4:00 AM,there was occasional confusion due to the mixture of russians and austrians unabel to understand each other or instructions but overall by 6:30 am Kienmayer with his advance guard was ready to begin the attack on the french right wing.

FRENCH RIGHT FLANK-ATTACK ON TELLNITZ.




The french had anchored their right on broken terrain resting on the Goldbach stream and fortified three of the villages along the defense line.Tellnitz,Sokolnitz and Kobelnitz from south to north.Tellnitz was a well suited natural defensive position with a reverse slope,vineyards,ditch and stone buildings and walls-all of which could be of great help in delaying a larger force,for which it had been selected by napoleon beforehand.It was garrisoned by a single french regiment -the 3rd Line.
After an initial reconssaince Kienmeyer began his attack around 7:00 am with the 2nd battalion of 2Szekler(see map ) regiment flanked by 2 hussar regiments .However the lead battalion soon ran into heavy musketry from the chain of french skirmishers deployed among the vineyards.Kienmayer noted this,and send in the 1st battalion of the regiment to support.3 infantry battalions and the O reilly chevauxlegers cavalry regiment remained in reserve.In face of overwhelming numbers of determined austrians the french skirmishers fell back to the ditch after a third austrian assault and eventually into the village itself.However french musket fire amongst the vineyards where the horsemen were unable to deploy caused numerous losses among the austrian hungarian hussars.


Having secured the approaches to the village,kienmeyer withdrew the depleted 2Szekler into reserve and sent in his 3 remaining infantry battalions(2 battalions of 1szekler regiment,1 border grenz battalion) to storm the town by brute force.However this force came under murderous fire from the main body of the 3L garrisoning Tellnitz.Confused by the fog and under heavy fire they retreated,the french infantry chased them back upto the vineyards before kienmeyer threw in his reserve 2 battalions that were resting and drove the french back into the village.Both forces were now spent as they stood facing each other.It was around this time that Dokhturov's 1st column began to snake its way towards tellnitz.
Buxhowden immediately dispatched the russian 7th jaeger and this joined by the reformed szekler regiments now launched a renewed attack on tellnitz.Finally after another half an hour of fighting the allies cleared Tellnitz of the french as the 3L retreated to the other bank of the golbach stream abandoning tellnitz.In all the allies had cleared tellnitz in about one and half hours fighting.


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(Focus only on Tellnitz in above ,others later)
ENTER DAVOUT - The fight for tellnitz was far from over.Davout fast approaching Sokolnitz with the leading elements of his corps got word of the action at around 8:00 AM,immediately dispatched his advance guard under Heudelet and his light cavalry division under Bourcier.Heudelet's force consisted of 2 voltigeur skirmisher companies of the 15th Light,plus the 2 battalions of the 108Line regiment.Heudelet's infantry approached under mask of fog and surprised the allied forces at tellnitz by storming the town at bayonet point without any musket firefight.The 7 jaeger was lying scattered around the village,searching for food when the french were upon them-they fled in disarray crashing into the austrian grenzers who too joined the flight in total confusion.The french had regained Tellnitz.

As the allied officers were restoring order Heudelet garrisoned the town -the 2 skirmisher companies of the 15th light in the vineyards in front of the village,one battalion of 108 line in line formation behind them,the second battalion in column ready for a bayonet counterattack inside the village.The hungarian hussars now had their chance taking advantage of the same fog,they surprised the Battalion in line and skirmishers from the flank,while another hussar squadron stuck the 108 battalion in column coming to their aid.Taken by surprise the mauled french fled back into the village.By this time however the allied artillery had arrived and began a heavy bombardment of tellnitz,with this fire support the russian infantry recaptured tellnitz as heudelet abandoned the village.



(Focus only tellnitz above)
As Heudelet abandoned tellnitz and retreated his force came across the 26L coming towards them from sokolnitz.In the fog there was freindly fire casulaities before the 108 identified themselves by waiving their eagle.Meanwhile the allied cavalry made a tentative probe in pursuit of the french,but around this time Bourcier's dragoons finally came up and charged them back across the goldbach.Thus Heudelet's stand had bought a precious half hours for the french allowing bourcier to halt the allied cavalry which could otherwise have gotten to the rear of sokolnitz and caused havoc.It was around 9:00 and the fog was only slowly clearing.Buxhowden according to the plan halted and rested his first column and waited for the other 2 to come up and form up parallel to the first before resuming his advance.However in adhering to the plan,it gave the hard pressed french infantry time to regroup.(Buxhowden was also unsure as to what lay behind the goldbach due to fog).
 
BATTLE FOR SOKOLNITZ:



(Repeat picture,now focus sokolnitz)
The french forces around sokolnitz and guarding the 2 bridges over the stream composed of the Tirailleurs de Po(Piedmontese legion) -a battalion around 400-500 men.The rest of Legrand's Division(which was the 3rd division of soult's IV corps and tasked with defence of the right wing at tellnitz,sokolnitz and kobelnitz) minus the 3L which was at Tellnitz composed of 3 regiments(26 Light,18L,75L-2 battalions each) plus 1 battalion of Tirailleurs de Corses(Corsican Legion).was at Kobelnitz about 1 hrs march to the north.Legrand on hearing fire from Tellnitz dispatched the 26L with its 2 battalions under merle while the rest remained under Levausseur at kobelnitz.

Langeron meanwhile had advanced with his second column slowly down the heights but had been delayed first by shoddy staffwork and then disrupted by lichtenstein's cavalry which had mistaken its position,the fog and communication issues further aggravated matters.At about 8:30 Langeron finally had the head of his column before sokolnitz.Around this time his advance guard came under fire from french skirmishers at sokolnitz.



Langeron deployed his artillery and sent forward a battalion of 3rd jaeger to clear the skirmishers.At this point Allied 3rd column made its way to sokolnitz from the pratzen.It had been delayed by a series of ditches on its route.However the allied Langeron and Przbyshevsky had no idea about the strength of the enemy in front of them due to fog and lack of reconssaince cavalry in their columns.Meanwhile attracted by the musketry,Merle and the 26L enroute to tellnitz now reinforced Sokolnitz.1 battalion deployed in the village itself,the second battalion with 2 guns on high ground between the village and castle(see map).The Tirailleur de Po(TdP) garrisoned the castle and pheasantry further north.Langeron began his attack on sokolnitz village with 3 battalions of the 8th jaeger with artillery support and rest of his column close by.Further north Przbyshevsky at around the same time(9:00 am) sent forward 2 battalions of 7 jaeger to seize sokolnitz castle.



(Merle)

7 jaeger quickly seized this strongpoint from the outnumbered TdP,but on further advance came under withering fire from the 2nd battalion of 26L on high ground and 2 french guns.Surprised and forced to retreat they lost their commanding officer wounded and captured.The 26L(2) retook sokolnitz castle.Further south the first attack of the 8Jaeger was beaten off by the garrisoned french with heavy losses.




Now the allied commanders had a clearer view of french strength and planned an overwhelming attack.Przbyshevsky intended a 5-battalion attack.2 battalions of 7J to clear sokolnitz castle,then wheel left and strike at sokolnitz village.Meanwhile 3 battalions of galitz musketeers to clear the area between the village and castle and take sokolnitz from the left.This left 6 battalions of narva and butyrsk musketeers in reserve.His other 6 battalions under wimpfen watched the french forces at kobelnitz to guard against a flank attack from that sector.Meanwhile Langeron simultaneously would attack sokolnitz village from the front with 5 battalions,keeping 6 more in reserve.




Sokolnitz castle was easily taken,but the french 26L between the castle and the village 'produced carnage' mowing down waves of allied attackers crossing the goldbach.However hopelessly outnumbered,soon the situation was desperate for 26L and with the 2 gun battery overrun by russian jaeger,.Rest of the 26L fled in disarray(a part of this force met the 108 retreating from tellnitz and had friendly fire incident described earlier) but over a hundred french were trapped and taken prisoner as the jubiliant russian forces seized sokolnitz.It was about 9:45 am and allied officers were busy reforming their tangled units in the village before renewing the attack.However events further north in the pratzen heights would soon disrupt all allied plans.

NEXT: CENTRE -FRENCH STORM PRATZEN HEIGHTS.
 
BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ-III


As the action was heating up at Tellnitz and sokolnitz Napoleon watched motionless from his vantage point surrounded by his marshals(There was tension between soult and Lannes.Few days earlier Soult and murat,convinced they were about to be defeated managed to get Lannes to act as the spokesperson to napoleon to voice these concerns.Napoleon however dismissed such notions and asked where did he get these ideas from.Lannes answered that it was a collective decision,however the ever diplomatic soult backed away from taking any responsibility leaving lannes embarrassed.A furious lannes challenged soult to a duel,a situation which had later been defused,but was the catalyst of a long enmity between the 2 marshals.)

'ONE SHARP BLOW AND THIS WAR IS OVER' -

After dismissing his marshals except soult who stayed with him,napoleon continued to watch as the allied columns slowly descended from the pratzen heights and moved towards the french right.After 8:00 PM the fog had dispersed over the heights affording a clear view.However it still lingered over the french centre around Puntowitz due to a combination of smoke from french campfires and terrain ,here behind the slopes beyond the village of Puntowitz stood Napoleon's trump card - 2 divisions of Soult's corps 16,000 men with which he intended to retake the pratzen in a surprise attack.To ensure the proper 'elan' these troops had been provided a triple spirit dose in their rations.


As he watched the allies denude their centre bonaparte mocked the allied commanders for acting as if they were following his orders.Napoleon had on purpose massed 8 infantry divisions on the french left and centre leaving the right defended by only 1(legrand).Meanwhile soult was getting impatient.

“How long will it take you to move your divisions to the top of the Pratzen Heights?” the Emperor enquired of Soult.
“Less than twenty minutes, Sire, for my troops are hidden at the foot of the valley, hidden by fog and campfire smoke,” was the reply. “In that case, we will wait a further quarter of an hour.”

At around 9:00 am,napoleon judged the allied centre sufficiently weakened and gave the signal to attack to soult ,pointing to the allied centre- ''One sharp blow and this war is over'' -Napoleon.

Bonaparte prescribed a 2 -prong attack on the pratzen.Vandamme from the left,St.Hilaire from the right.Each division formed up in 3 lines,first line of 2 light infantry battalions,the succesive 2 in columns.St.hilaire's open right flank would be covered by Levaussier at Kobelnitz who would intercept any reinforcement from the allied columns around sokolnitz to the pratzen.Bernadotte's I corps would follow up Soult,oudinot's grenadiers and the imperial guard being the final reserve.

PANIC IN ALLIED HEADQUARTERS:



The allied officers and emperors were busy watching their columns below slowly push back the french right.The czar meanwhile prodded kutuzov to send forward the 4th Column(Miloradovich-Kollowrat) which he did with some reluctance.Meanwhile a french prisoner was brought before the czar who identified himself as belonging to III corps.

Czar alexander:Marshal davout's corps?That corps is in vienna!
Prisoner :It was yesterday,today it's here.

Meanwhile the sun had come up(the later famous 'sun of austerlitz') and the shocked allied officers now discovered a large body of french ,bayonets glistening coming straight at their centre,already halfway up the pratzen .There was a wave of astonishment and panic,at this sudden threat to the center.Kutusov and his headquarters, accompanying Miloradovitch’s southbound column(4th column-part), suddenly realized the danger as they reached the crest of the Pratzen en route for Sokolnitz. Halting the troops in his vicinity, Kutusov hurriedly reversed the direction of their march, but only two battalions reached the village of Pratzen before the storm broke.

(Overview of French attack on pratzen 9-11 AM)

BATTLE FOR PRATZEN HEIGHTS:

ST.HILARE'S ATTACK -

I - Check arrows in above diagram.Correspond with below map.Vandamme's target is Stare Vinorady.St hilaire moves towards Pratze,onto Pratzeberg(pratze visible in middle)



II - The 1st battalion of 14L of St.Hilaire's command entered pratze thinking it abandoned but was ambushed by a devastating volley by a battalion of russian infantry hiding in a ravine( novgorod musketeer).Totally surprised the french infantry simply turned and fled.(on above pic u can see 14L I.battalion rallying behind st.hilaire)However the french soon renewed the attack on pratze with 3 infantry battalions[36L(both),14L(2nd)] and despite being reinforced by a battalion of aspehron musketeers the russian infantry faced massed volleys followed by waves of french infantry attacks with bayonet and were threatened with encirclement by 36L(1).Initially keeping the french at bay by bayonet counterattacks,resistance finally collapsed when the french brought up artillery began to pour canister into the russian ranks.Having had enough, the russian battalions already understrength,routed entirely refusing to rally.This action exposed miloradovich's(fighting vandamme) right flank.
 
III - Meanwhile St .Hilaire's extreme right battalions(two) of the elite 10 th Light regiment marching on Pratzeberg encountered 2 battalions of novgorod musketeers heading the same way.The french won the race and soon pushed back these battalions in disarray as they were also attacked in the flank by 36L(1).In response two austrian brigades(Jurzcik,Sterndahl) of IV column(kolowrat) were directed towards pratzberg to retake it.But as they were on their way ,miloradovich sent desperate plea for help to kutuzov -vandamme's division had hit the pratzen from the west.Sterndahl veered of with ten battalions to reinforce miloradovich while Jurzcik moved ahead with the remaining 5 battalions towards pratzberg.(see above map)

IV - Meanwhile Kamensky commanding the rear end of Langeron's column saw what was happening on the pratzen and on his own initiative turned his column around to reclimb the heights.(Ending description by number due to coming interconnected events)

(Vandamme - Napoleon said of vandamme,if i ever invade hell,vandamme would lead the vanguard)

VANDAMME VS MILORADOVICH :

On seeing the french coming 2 battalions of the aspheron musketeers as well as 3 battalions of the smolensk musketeers (originally marching towards pratzberg)hastily turned and assumed position in line to meet vandamme's assault.To their left 3 battalions of the Little russia Grenadiers formed Miloradovich's second line.Vandamme launched an all out attack,Miloradovich's 5 centre battalions were immediately engaged by 6 french battalions(2 X 57L,46L,24L),with the 46 line in centre and the 57 the line 'the terrible 57th'( possibly the best line regiment in grande armee along with 9L 'incomparable') on its right flank and the 24 light-another crack unit on its left flank. (see last map)
Further south 4 more of vandamme's battalions(55L & 43L)moved to engage the 3 battalions of the Little russia regiment which formed miloradovich's left flank.Vandamme kept 4 battalions(28L,4L) in reserve behind his front line.
In total within 15 minutes between St.Hilaire and Vandamme the french had massed 12,000 men facing 6,000 russians with another 7,000 austrians desperately rushing to their aid.

The little russia grenadiers(3 bns) was engaged in a heavy musket firefight with the 55L(2bns) and 43L(2 bns).Here superior french fire discipline began to tell as the russian took mounting casualities.At this point compounding the problem,2 french battalions broke the russian defenders at Pratze(see phase 2 ) totally exposing the left flank of the Little russia.Now under attack from front and flank by 6 french battalions,the grenadiers made desperate bayonet charges to drive back the french but were shot down in droves by disciplined french volleys taking devastating casualities.With both its commanding officers wounded and captured the Little russia collapsed and broke.Vandamme had broken through miloradovich's left flank.
This spelled doom for miloradovich's 5 main centre battalions,assailed from front by 6 french battalions their flank was now under attack by the 55L and 43L,fresh victorious over the little russia.In a chain the russian line collapsed and broke,fleeing to the safety of the rear.Kutuzov attempting to rally them was wounded by a bullet.The czar implored him to go to the rear to treat his wound to which kutuzov pointed to the masses of advancing bluecoats remarking-''The wound is there''.
In under one hour the french had broken through the allied first line of defense on the pratzen and the allied situation was now critical.

BATTLE FOR PRATZEN HEIGHTS -PHASE II


(Ignore north-focus pratzen,explained later)
With the french occupying the western end of the pratzen heights after the rout of miloradovich,the 15 austrian battalions of Kollowrath were the final forces available to kutuzov to hold back the advancing twenty french battalions(St.hilaire and vandamme) until he could reform Miloradovich's shattered forces behind the austrian line.Of these austrian battalions 8 were regulars and 7 battalions of hastily raised reservists.
5 battalions(58,38,55,49,29) of Jurzcik's command were in position to attack St.hilaire at Pratze.
Other ten battalions to their right defended the strongpoint of Stare vinhrady against vandamme.
Meanwhile kutuzov sent urgent appeals to the first 3 columns below to send reinforcements and also to grand duke constantine to send in the russian imperial guard.

Help came unexpectedly swiftly.Kamenski leading the rear of II column(Langeron) was on his way to sokolnitz when seeing the disaster unfolding on the pratzen heights he turned and rescaled the heights on his own initiative with his six battalions of Ryazask and Fanagoria regiments.(see map)He also sent a messenger to notify langeron of the events on the pratzen.

(St.Hilaire -One of the best infantry generals in the grande armee)

ST.HILAIRE - Morand,brigade commander of the 10 L noticed this movement and immediately alerted St.hilaire who now refused his right flank and turned 3 battalions[10L(2bns) and 36L(1)] to face this new threat and reinforced them with 3 guns from his divisional reserve.
At around this time the remaining 2 battalions of St.Hilaire's force(Thiebult's brigade) noted the approach of the 5 battalions of Jurzcik's austrians appraoching Pratze.Outnumbered(against kamensky and Jurzcik combined) and with no reserves save the rallying 14L (1) things suddenly looked dangerous for the french.However Thiebult fortified his 2 battalions at pratze with the remaining 3 8-pounder divisional guns(Other 3 supporting morand).At this point Soult's Corps Artillery with 6 heavy 12-pounder guns arrived to reinforce St.Hilaire.Thieubult divided the 6 guns into 2 3-gun 12 pdr batteries and allocated each to support one battalion of 36L.St.hilaire's 5 battalions were thus deployed in a L-shaped arc - 4,000 french facing 6,000 fresh russians and austrians(Kamensky and Jurzcik),however the french had the advantage of high ground and very powerful artillery support.

Kamensky attacked with six battalions in line,but ran into withering fire from the 10L on high ground.Using their superior marksmanship and heavy artillery support the french inflicted heavy losses.Unable to force his way through in a frontal attack kamensky attempted to turn Morand's right flank,but St.hilaire sent in the rallied 1st battalion of 14L who stabilized the threat from this potentially dangerous move.
Meanwhile Jurzcik accompanied by Kutuzov attacked thieubult at Pratze.The french hid their guns behind the infantry until the austrians were point blank range,then moved away to reveal the batteries which poured hail of canister into the whitecoats.These were supported by massed volleys from the french infantry and the austrians took serious casulaities.In this case too the austrian infantry was finding it difficult to keep up with the superior musketry of the veteran french.The austrian attack was stalled and bleeding.



VANDAMME - To the north,vandamme had wasted no time and immediately attacked the austrians before stare vaneradhy with his first line of 8 battalions with 6 more in reserve(55L and 43L originally part of St.hilaire's division,now operating with vandamme's force).
Austrians held firm,french 24L was stopped in its tracks and countercharged by the elite austrian GR23 grenadiers.However the grenadiers came under flank attack from Boye's dragoons from the north and were themselves driven back with heavy losses(boye's dragoons had been redirected from french left wing cavalry reserve-detail later).
Seeing his right flank in trouble Kollowrath reinforced it with IR24(6) battalion from the second line( see map).Vandamme too sent one battalion of the 4L from his second line to extend his left flank and the 2nd to reinforce 24L(2bns) for a renewed assault.Simulatneously his other 6 frontline battalions would press the austrians all over the line.Vandamme assembled 7000 frenchmen against 5000 austrians.
Pinning the austrian line from the front with his 6 battalions,the other 3 battalions flanked them from the north west slowly bending back kollowrath's right flank.The IR 23 austrians suffered greiviously - in a combined assault by the bayonets of the 24L and boye's dragoons losing 50% of their strength.Meanwhile french artillery wreaked havoc on the austrian ranks.Finally around 11:00 am kollowrath's right flank collapsed,this initiated a chain rout of his centre as the french broke through the crumbling austrian line taking large numbers of prisoners.Vandamme proceeded to occupy Stare Vineradhy.
Meanwhile Miloradovich desperately rallied his battered surviving 9 russian battalions(other 3 destroyed) and Napoleon ordered Bernadotte's I corps to join soult on the pratzen.His first division Drouet was fast approaching.

(Ignore north,later)

BATTLE FOR PRATZEN -PHASE III :

ST.HILAIRE -South of the Pratzen heights,Langeron had arrived from sokolnitz to investigate the disturbing reports he had recieved from kamenski.He found kamenski's battalions being slowly ground down in musket duels by the french.Recognizing the futility of this,Langeron ordered fix bayonets and the russian infantry launched a fierce charge uphill initially pushing Morand's french before them.At this juncture St.Hilaire having recalled 43L from vandamme led the countercharge as the french pushed kamensky's exhausted men back down the slope with heavy losses.Now Boye's dragoons redirected by napoleon to St.hilaire also arrived to support this counterattack.After fierce resistance under this new french attack,finally Kamensky's force with half their number casualities broke and fled.

Meanwhile Langeron had ridden off to get reinforcements for kamensky. 3 battalions of the kursk regiment called up by langeron to join kamensky from his reserve at sokolnitz had been intercepted from the flank and crushed by Levausseur at Kobelnitz.(this is shown in first colour map-phase 8)
Jurzcik made a final desperate bayonet assault on pratze,but despite causing heavy losses amongst the weakening french this attack too was halted by a hail of musket and cannonfire.Jurzcik being killed,at this points the survivors retreated.
VANDAMME - To the north of the pratzen,Vandamme continued his relentless assault.Advancing from Stare Vineradhy,the french attacked the makeshift defensive line that miloradovich and kollowrath were trying to form out of the remnants of tehir beaten battalions.In about 20 minutes these shaken and depleted battalions suffered yet another rout as vandamme broke through.Kutuzov could now see Drouet's division approaching(Guard and oudinot following) and gave the order for whatever troops left to withdraw from the pratzen.It was around 11:30 AM ,in about two and half hours of intense fighting the french were masters of the pratzen heights.
The allied IV column and part of the II-column had been destroyed and the allied centre had all but ceased to exist,splitting the whole allied army in two.
The last hope of the allied army now was the russian imperial guard.

NEXT: LEFT FLANK - LANNES-MURAT VS LICHTENSTEIN-BAGRATION
LeveragedBuyout said:
@AUSTERLITZ Amazing detail, as always. How were the French troops recruited into the army, via draft or were they volunteers? And what about the coalition forces? You mentioned previously that the French Revolution allowed a kind of meritocracy to develop, which is why Napoleon was able to exploit so much talent in his forces, but what accounts for the superior training of the foot soldiers?

Thanks again for this great series.
Click to expand...

Austerlitz:
About half volunteers.Half conscripts with training.(rotated by yearly drafts)
Austrians had slightly less volunteers.
Russians best battalions full volunteer,line infantry serf 25 yr conscription.

Superior fire discipline is accounted for by 2 things -The french infantry were more combat experienced which is the best training.And also both soult and davout's corps were situated for over 2 years on the camp of boulogne where they underwent rigorous fire training,as the napoleonic wars progressed french infantry quality declined sharply.But during 1805-1807 it was at its peak.
 
BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ-IV


LEFT FLANK : LANNES-MURAT VS BAGRATION-LICHTENSTEIN

The french left flank was anchored at santon hill,with its strength concentrated between giriskowitz and bosenitz.Lannes main body composed of his 2 infantry divisions (12,000)- Suchet on the left and Cafarelli on the right.This was supported by murat's whole cavalry reserve.Lannes light cavalry division of Trelliard along with Milhaud's light cavalry brigade(from Cav Res)supported suchet's left flank along with Kellerman's light cavalry division(detatched from Bernadotte I corps).Boye's Dragoon division supported cafarelli's right flank to the south.Behind lannes two lines of infantry stood the reserve-the dragoon division of walther and 2 elite heavy cavalry divisions of cuirassiers and carabiniers - Nansouty and D'hautpol.

Behind lannes to the south stood the 2 infantry divisions of Bernadotte's corps(Druoet and Rivaud).

Facing this was bagration with his main body of infantry(9200 men) his right flank covered by chaplitsi's cossacks ,his left mariopul hussars under wittengstein and a battery.Tver dragoons in reserve.To bagration's left stood Lichtenstein's cavalry column.The cavalry brigades of Uvarov and Shepelev along with the elisabetgrad hussars and Hohenlohe's austrian cuirassiers.Lichtenstein was supported by Yermolov's horse battery(the one described in russian generals section).



(Uvarov- noted russian cavalry general)

Further south to the rear of the allied position stood Grand duke constantine with the russian imperial guard.The elite Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Lifeguard foot,the guard jaeger battalion supported by the light cavalry of the guard on both flanks.(the heavy cavalry still to the rear-not shown)

Lannes orders were to begin his pinning attack once Soult had ascended the heights to prevent any russian reinforcements from reaching the pratzen.Bagration's orders were to hold until all allied columns had left the pratzen and then begin his secondary attack.Lannes's infantry began advancing about 9:30 AM- after the french had stormed the pratzen.Lannes intended to attack straight along the olmutz road seperating Bagration from Lichtenstein.



(Kellerman - one of the best french cavalry generals along with murat,lasalle and montbrun)

INITIAL CAVALRY BATTLES:
Lichtenstein reacted immediately,ordering shepelov to send forward part of his light cavalry-10 squadrons of the superb constantine uhlans to charge kellerman's cavalry who was leading lannes's attack.Kellerman had 12 squadrons of light cavalry(in 4 regiments),but these were largely untested.He barely had time to react to the fury of the russian cavalry attack but kept his cool.Unwilling to gamble with his untested hussars and chasseurs, kellerman wheeled his cavalry left and rode off.(this is where we see kellerman in picture,to the left of the infantry)The uhlans caught and routed one rear squadron of the french,but suddenly came face to face with masses of bluecoat infantry which were coming up behind kellerman.Despite valiant charges the constantine uhlans took devastating volleys from the french infantry (uhlans caught facing wrong side chasing french cavalry)and were thrown into disorder.The oppurtunistic kellerman now turned round and struck, throwing back the uhlans with heavy losses.Despite great gallantry the uhlans lost 20% of their regiment killed and half their officers casualities.
Meanwhile bagration had sent forward wittgenstien with the maripol hussars along with a supporting battery to the road in reaction to lannes movement.As kellerman's cavalry chased the uhlans,yashvil's battery unlimbered and opened fire.Simultaneously Shepelov launched the elisabetgrad hussars(~800) to drive back the french.Kellerman's lead regiment was surprised by this 2 -prong assault and swamped by russian hussars lost its commanding officer captured.Kellerman acted quickly realigning his other 3 regiments and flanking the elisabetgrad hussars in turn who were driven back and the lead regiment and its commander rescued.(in picture we see elisabetgrad launching a later charge).With this kellerman withdrew out the russian battery range and reformed his squadrons.



(Crude map with bad spacing,check first map for descriptions.Above one is only extra)

BATTLE FOR BLASOWITZ:
The village of blasowitz represented a strategic objective as it linked the allied centre with its right wing.Lannes had ordered the elite 13th Light(2 bns) of caffarelli's division to occupy this strongpoint and shifted boye's dragoons to cover his right flank.Meanwhile Constantine too saw vandamme advance on the heights and sent forward the russian lifeguard jaeger battalion with 2 guns to seize blasowitz(which would allow for flanking vandamme from the north).The jaeger got there first,the french attempted to force their way through but met heavy resistance from the elite russian guards,in heavy street fighting 13L lost its commanding officer but french numbers(2 bns to 1) were slowly edging the jaegers out.
In response to dual pleas for help Constantine sent 3rd battalion of the semenovsky lifeguards to reinforce the jaegers and 1st battalion of the izmailovsky lifeguards to aid kutuzov on the pratzen.(see black/white map)



(Boye's Dragoons)

Boye's dragoons here pounced on the isolated GR 23 battalion on the northern edge of the pratzen and cut it up(described earlier-last post).However constantine intercepted part of the dragoons with his life guard hussars and forced them back into the safety of their infantry.(map 1).
Lannes finally broke the deadlock at Blasowitz by sending in 2 fresh battalions of 51L from the north who encircled the russians.The semenovsky and guard jaeger pulled back leaving 300 prisoners.(see map 1).Meanwhile lichtenstein moved his 3 austrian cuirassier regiments of hohenlohe towards blasowitz in response to kutuzov's appeal.(see map 1)
 


LARGE CAVALRY BATTLES:
Uvarov shifted the elisabetgrad hussars to cover his left flank exposed by hohelohe's departure.Meanwhile Yermolov and yashvil's batteries took a heavy toll on lannes infantry line(which had halted) causing 400 casualities in a few minutes.
In response Kellerman now having reformed his 4 cavalry regiments charged uvarov(weakened by shifting of ER hussars) around Krug.The french drove uvarov's dragoons and captured half of yermolov's battery when bagration came to their rescue.Massing all his reserve cavalry(18 squadrons) led by the Tver dragoon and 3 battalions of the 6 Jaeger from the post-house(see map 1) he hit kellerman from the flank leaving the french horsemen fleeing back in disorder,and recaptured yermolov's guns.

Meanwhile Uvarov sent forward the ER hussars to take the 51L moving into blasowitz from the flank.However the hussars were caught in the interlocking fire from the squares of 17L and 51L and took serious losses .(see map 1 )
Murat saw his oppurtunity and unleashed Nansouty's Heavy Cavalry division (18 squadrons) of elite cuirassiers.These armoured horsemen crashed into the already struggling 10 squadrons of elisabetgrad hussars and caused a total rout.As the cuirassiers chased the hussars back to the russian lines,the russian artillery prevented further pursuit.
As the cuirassiers turned back having become dispersed during the pursuit,uvarov saw an oppurtunity and resting his depleted hussars launched his dragoons after the french heavies.Hunter had become prey.Nansouty didn't turn to face the dragoons but instead flitered his horsemen through gaps in the Caffarelli's infantry line and began to reform them in the safety of the rear.
The russian dragoons chasing them thus came head on against the waiting muskets of the bluecoats(17L and 30L-see their position in map 1),the point blank volleys quickly shattered the lead squadrons.




Having reformed his squadrons to the rear of the infantry,nansouty now launched a powerful counterattack on the dragoons-the cuirassiers and carabiniers quickly breaking the spent dragoons and sending them back in disorder.Nansouty's handling of his cavalry was an excellent example of the power of combined arms tactics.The allied cavalry on the other hand,despite being excellent basic material had launched a series of unsupported charges to little effect.

BAGRATION'S DIVERSION:

Bagration saw the french gaining ground around blasowitz and resolved on a diversionary attack north,2 battalions of the 5 jaeger and several squadrons of cossacks and pavlovgrad hussars under surprised the small french detatchment at bosenitz and advanced as far as the santon hill where the entrenched 17L with cannon support halted them .The french then launched a 2 prong counterattack with milhaud and trelliard's light cavalry from the north and the 17L from the south and retook bosenitz, once again securing lannes left flank.This diversion,though costly bought the allies half and hour.(see map 1)



(Focus north)

BLASOWITZ: RIVAUD VS CONSTANTINE

Meanwhile as the allied line on the pratzen was collapsing,Bernadotte's 1st division under Rivaud (total 9 bns of regiments 54L,45L,8L)was steadily approaching Blasowitz.Brushing aside harassing cavalry attacks from hohenlohe's cuirassiers they arrived at blasowitz around 11:30 AM.Blasowitz was already garrisoned by the 51L and 13L(light) of caffarelli's division which had seen heavy action.Constantine understood that if rivaud advanced from Blasowitz he would succeed in seperating the allied centre from the right wing and prepared for an urgent attack on Rivaud.



(Grand duke Constantine)

Constantine massed 4 battalions of the elite Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Lifeguards and ordered a massed bayonet assault on rivaud suvorov-style.The elite russian troops charged at 300 paces and were thus short of breath when they reached the french line.Rivaud's infantry stood their ground and delivered several strong volleys causing heavy losses.Undaunted,the imperial guards came on to the cries of 'Urrah,Urrah'.
Rivaud's skirmisher chain was first swept away, before the russian charge hit his front line.The 3 first line battalions of the 8L too were unable to stop the attack and were driven back.The attack finally came to a halt before the disciplined fire of Rivaud's second line battalions(45L).Constantine considered throwing in the last of his reserves,but around this time the allied centre collapsed and kutuzov's order for a withdrawal reached him.Constantine recalled his tired guardsmen who withdrew in good order with their retreat covered by the guard light cavalry.

NEXT: RIGHT FLANK -DAVOUT VS BUXHOWDEN
 
BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ-V


RIGHT FLANK : DAVOUT STANDS FIRM

FRIANT VS OLSUFIEV -

On the french right flank as we have seen(scroll up post #65) by 9:30 AM the 3 allied columns had taken tellnitz and Sokolnitz and were in line to resume their advance.Przbyshevsky and Langeron were busy reorganizing their tangled units at sokolnitz before resuming the advance.The beaten french regiments had retreated in 2 directions - 3L (3 bns) and 108L(2 bns) from tellnitz had retreated west covered by bourcier's dragoons of davout's corps.They had been joined by one battalion of 26L from sokolnitz.The other half of 1 battalion of 26L and Tirailleurs de Po had retreated north towards kobelnitz pond.

Meanwhile while reforming at around 10:00 am Langeron had recieved first reports of the french assault on the pratzen.Initially dismissing this as an overblown rumor,he was shaken when immediately afterward kamensky's messenger arrived to confirm the news.Leaving Olsufiev in command of his column Langeron rode off to investigate.( we have seen him join kamensky at the pratzen in earlier post).


(Friant)
Olsufiev reformed his battalions at a leisurely pace,making no effort to recon further believing the french defeated.Przbyshevsky showed more caution,having detected the arrival of elements of Friant's division(Davout's III corps) he drew up his column in force on the defensible terrain between sokolnitz castle and village.Friant however knew the exact strength of the allied force at sokolnitz from the soldiers of 26L and despite being heavily outnumbered decided on a spoiling attack to buy time with 4 battalions of the 48L(2 bns) and 111L(2 bns).(Lochet's Brigade)

The 48 L attacked sokolnitz village from the right and the 111L from the front.Olsufiev had 9 battalions west of the goldbach,but was caught totally unprepared by the flank attack of the 48L .The 48L made initial rapid progress capturing 2 russian standards and 2 guns but eventually ran out of steam as russian numbers began to tell,the 48L holding on to the west end of Sokolnitz in a desperate struggle.Now olsufiev turned his battalions from east of sokolnitz village to face the 48L.

At this juncture,111L launched their own frontal attack taking these forces in the flank.The 111L penetrated into the village and made contact with 48L but soon found it difficult to advance further.The russian infantry having recovered from the surprise resisted with tenacity causing mounting losses.Olsufiev now counterattacked in strength and soon the 111L was pushed back out of sokolnitz,the 48L was still holding despite being surrounded.However friant's spoiling attack had bought time for the rest of his division(Kister's brigade) to arrive,Davout at their head.It was around 11:00 am.

DAVOUT TAKES CHARGE:

Davout saw the 111L being driven back,and immediately launched a counterattack with 4 battalions of kister's brigade(15 Light,33 L).This bayonet attack drove olsufiev's russians back into sokolnitz.The 15L followed them into the village.
Meanwhile the 33L attacked przbyshevsky's first line formed up between the village and the castle.Despite facing double their number the 33L proved why Davout's III corps was considered the finest in the grande armee.Strik's four battalions were taking serious losses from accurate french musketry delivered from high ground.Only with difficulty by using his second line did strik manage to push the stubborn french back.Meanwhile Olsufiev finally drove back the 15L,as both these french regiments retreated to the high ground.Amidst this pressure however the 48L trapped in sokolnitz broke out and joined davout.


(Davout -'The bald eagle')
Hereafter Davout consolidated his defensive line in an arc on high ground anchored by sokolnitz pond to the south and kobelnitz pond to the north and rested his troops.
In the 2 hour fight for sokolnitz ,Friant and Davout had not only pinned down 2 allied columns with far inferior forces preventing them from sending any reinforcements at the height of the battle for the pratzen,but also held firm preventing the allies from breaking through on the french right.(Napoleon was readying Oudinot's grenadiers to reinforce this sector,but III corps stabilized the line by themselves)
Much of the blame for the allied failure on this front to break through must go to overall commander Buxhowden who sat idly with the I column around tellnitz prefering to wait until Olsufiev and Przbyshevsky had cleaned up their own mess around sokolnitz.


NEXT: CENTRE -ATTACK OF THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL GUARD
 
BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ-VI


CENTRE -SITUATION:
By 12:30 am Vandamme and St'Hilaire had cleared the pratzen of all enemy troops(kamensky's force being the last to break-u can see it routing above).Napoleon now planned to deliver the Coup'd Grace on the allied army and ordered 16 of the 20 battalions of Vandamme and St.hilaire's command to wheel south,descend from the pratzen plateau and fall on the exposed rear of the allied columns at tellnitz and sokolnitz .The remaining 4 battalions of Vandamme's command(24 Light,4L) would stay on pratzen and be reinforced by Bernadotte's 1st Division of Rivaud (9 bns) redeployed from blasowitz.Drouet's 2nd division of I.corps would follow St.hilaire down the heights in dealing the deathblow to the allied columns below.St.Hilaire and Vandamme had begun their movement ( u can see in map 16 battalions moving south)while Drouet had not yet arrived when Napoleon's plan was imperilled by a sudden disruption.

Constantine was retreating southeast towards Zbischow(where he intended to link up with survivors of 4th column) with the russian imperial guard after their aborted attack at Blasowitz.Most of his troops were still in high spirits.On reaching the eastern crest of the pratzen heights,they found their path blocked by 4 of vandamme's battalions,the 4L and 24Lt,which had been left behind to hold the heights till rivaud reinforced them.Initially the french didn't positively identify this column,Vandamme wounded ordered 1st battalion of 4L to advance and identify this column.




1.As soon as the scouts of 4L(1) had identified this threat Bigarre ,its commander immediately sent requests for reinforcements from the nearby 4L(2) and 24L.However before any aid could arrive the russian guard cavalry descended upon the lone battalion.Five squadrons of the elite Life guard horse thundered into the attack,but the french formed square just in time and the czar's guards were unable to make a dent as the french wall of bayonets kept them at bay,and the muskets picked off the horsemen.

2.At this point however,the russian guard horse artillery battery supported by 2 more squadrons of Lifeguard horse arrived and unlimbered at a mere 200 metres.The horse artillery poured a hail of canister into the tightly packed square tearing apart holes in the formation.Immediately following this,the 2 squadrons charged in.The french square collapsed to this combined arms assault.Suffering heavy casualities,the battalion scattered and fled ,losing the regiment's Eagle -the only one lost for the french that day.
Meanwhile the 24L and 4L(2) were marching to 4L(1) when they were struck from the flank by the Lifeguard Hussars,and shortly afterwards by the 5 squadrons of Horseguards from the front(riding from the rout of the 1st battalion).Caught in line and struck from 2 directions,the battalions broke into a mad flight abandoning their eagle which remained unseen on the ground and was later recovered.



(Rapp)

3.Napoleon and his staff were on the other side of the slope and unaware of this sudden crisis when suddenly the routing men of these 2 regiments came flooding through in headlong retreat engulfing the imperial headquarters.Refusing to rally they mechanically shouted 'Vive'l'empereur' while fleeing faster than ever.An alarmed napoleon now ordered his aid-de-camp General Rapp to go to Besseires and bring up the French guard cavalry.

CLASH OF THE IMPERIAL GUARDS:



Besseires had seen the fleeing infantry and was expecting the call.He deployed the guard cavalry(1 regiment of grenadiers a cheval,1 regiment of chasseurs a cheval,1 company of mamelukes) in 3 waves.In the front line he placed first 2 squadrons of the elite chasseurs a cheval(guard chasseurs-napoleon's escorts) on the left under Morland with a company of mamelukes(~100)under Rapp.To their right were the 3rd and 4rth squadrons of the guard chasseurs and the 5th squadron of horse grenadiers under Dahlmann(5th squadron was velites- conscripts from wealthy french families inducted for prestige).
Behind these Besseires stood at the head of 4 crack veteran squadrons of the Imperial heavy horse guard grenadiers(Grenadiers a cheval)-the most prestigious and senior regiment of french cavalry in the grande armee.

Meanwhile Drouet's division originally marching behind St.hilaire had been redirected to intercept Constantine.Drouet sent forward an advance force of skirmishers supported by 8 guns.



(Rapp leading the charge at austerlitz)

Morland ,Rapp and Dahlmann hit the russian lifeguard hussars directly on their path who were reforming after their succesful charge against the french infantry.Supported by the horse artillery and catching the guard hussars scattered they quickly routed this regiment.Then they swept on hit the Prebrazensky and Semenovsky Lifeguard regiments.The preobrzhensky fled to the safety of a nearby vineyard,while the semenovsky managed to form square and gradually with russian guard artillery support beat off the cavalry attack.Morland was killed by a bullet and Rapp took command.
 
With the french cavalry beaten off constantine now faced drouet's skirmishers and artillery coming from the flank.The russian guard engaged in a fighting withdrawal east towards the Krenowitz.Here a russian gun was overrun and demidov the battery officer captured( he had stayed behind to defend his gun to the last).He was weeping when brought before napoleon for losing his gun.Napoleon consoled him by saying -''It is no shame to be defeated by my army!'' and commended him for his courage.




Meanwhile Rapp came on for a second round of attacks ,now falling on the recently rallied 5 squadrons of guard hussars which were covering the infantry's withdrawal and routed them for a second time.His mamelukes charged the accompanying russian horse guard battery.Led by kostenensky, a gigantic gunner 'The russian hercules' the russian gunners defended their guns to the last.Finally leaving 2 guns Kostenensky led the remaining 4 guns to safety,cutting his through the enemy with his sword and stature.

FINAL ATTACK OF THE RUSSIAN GUARD CAVALRY:



As the french converged on Krenowitz with Rivaud from the north and Drouet from the south,the 4 battalions of Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky were fighting a desperate fighting withdrawal while the rest of the guard in a mass of stragglers crossed the bridge over into krenowitz.The Life guard horse lost its horse battery but managed across as did the bruised lifeguard hussars.The Guard jaegers garrisoned Krenowitz to prevent the french from storming it.Meanwhile the Preobrazhensky was taking serious casualities from flanking fire of drouet's infantry and french guard horse artillery and also threatened from front my Rapp and Dahlmann.

At this point the remaining cavalry of the russian guard appeared followed by 3 battalions of fresh life grenadiers.The fresh guard cavalry (5 squadrons of Heavy Chevalier Guards,2 squadrons of Lifeguard Cossacks)rushed forward to aid the beseiged russian guard infantry.
1) Half of the Chevalier guards(2.5 sq)charge drouet's skirmishers,scattering them before being forced back by the packed masses of Drouet's advancing infantry.
2) Two squadrons of Lifeguard cossacks charge Rivaud's skirmishers before being stopped cold by his main body of infantry and driven back by a countercharge by Rapp.
While these 2 attacks didn't achieve much they brought much needed relief for the exhausted guard infantry of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments who now broke into a mass began a mad flight for the bridge.



(Dahlmann)

3)Other half of the Chevalier Guards(2.5 sq) joined by 2 squadrons of Life guard horse rode through this swirling mass of infantry and directly at Rapp.Rapp's tired light cavalry was recklessly charged by the 2 lead squadrons of the fresh cavalier guard under Repnin and driven back.Seeing this Dahlmann ambushed the cavalier guard from both flanks -the 2 sqs of guard chasseurs from one and the 5th squadron of grenadiers a cheval trapping repnin.
Olenin leading the remaining 2 squadrons of Russian Life guard horse and half squadron of cavalier guards charged Dahlmann,intending to rescue repnin.
Seeing this attack make progress Besseires attacked at the head of his 4 fresh horse guard grenadier squadrons of the final line and swiftly broke Olenin's cavalry which fled back along the bridge.The pursuit of the french cavalry was halted at the bridge by Kostenensky the giant ,pouring canister from a single gun at the mouth of the bridge.Repnin's force was surrounded and destroyed with Repnin taken prisoner.



(Grenadiers a cheval charge)

The rest of the russian guard limped away on the other bank while Druoet made preparations to storm Krenowitz.It was 2:00 Pm,as it stood this would be the last large scale action on this sector.The russian imperial guard shouldered the burden of much fighting and suffered 1500 casualities ,half cavalry and half infantry-nearly 20% of the whole force.The french guard cavalry lost 140 killed and wounded .Despite such high losses the sacrifice of the russian guard cavalry did manage to save at least 4 battalions of guard infantry.With the Russian guard disposed off Napoleon moved his HQ south to observe the destruction of the allied columns below the pratzen.

Though this last charge of the russian guard cavalry was later portrayed by napoleonic propaganda as a final assault to retake the pratzen,it was infact a desperate attack to allow the withdrawal of the infantry- a task in which despite their defeat the russian guard cavalry largely succeded-albeit at a high price.

NEXT: LEFT WING - DEFEAT OF BAGRATION
 
BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ-VII



With the withdrawal of Constantine from Blasowitz following his aborted attack on Rivaud(post #69)Lichtenstein had also withdrawn with Hohenlohe's 3 depleted cuirassier regiments towards Krenowitz.(U can see them in last post final map)
Uvarov now with his flank exposed had withdrawn his battered dragoons and elisabethgrad hussars to the other bank of the rausnitz stream.Nansouty's Heavy cavalry division followed and kept watch.By 12:30 with the pratzen heights clear of the enemy Lannes was free to move against Bagration.

LANNES/MURAT VS BAGRATION:

Lannes planned to cave in Bagration's left flank while pinning down his centre and right.Caffarelli with his whole division of 10 battalions(line regiments 61,30,17,51 and 13 Light -51 and 13L formerly garrisoning blasowitz now freed up)moved on Holubitz and Krug.
Six of Suchet's 10 battalions(88,40,34) launched a frontal pinning attack on bagration's centre with 2 more in reserve on the second line.On Lannes left stood suchet's last 2 battalions of 17L supported by the light cavalry of Milhaud who had previously repulsed Bagration's diversionary attack in this area.Between Lannes centre and left wing stood D'hautpol's fresh heavy Cuirassiers. Kellerman's light cavalry regiments and Walther's fresh dragoon regiments were in reserve to the rear.


(Suchet - future marshal)

Bagration was outnumbered ,but his troops were still fresh.His left wing was anchored at Holubitz village manned by 3 battalions of 6Jaeger with shepelov's cavalry brigade covering its left wing.On its right the olmutz road was covered by the Mariopol hussars and Yashvil's horse battery under general Wiitgenstein.
His main infantry line consisted of 6 battalions of Old Ingermarland and Pskov Musketeers with 3 battalions of Arkhnagel Musketeers in the second line.Left flank was 2 battalions of 5 Jaeger and the Pavlovgrad hussars& Cossacks which had taken part in the diversionary attack earlier.Bagration had withdrawn the 5 squadrons of Tver dragoons as a final cavalry reserve.



In all Bagration had 14 infantry battalions and 53 guns,with 43 regular cavalry squadrons(several depleted) plus 25 odd Cossack squadrons.Lannes and Murat massed 20 infantry battalions with 32 guns and 72 squadrons(kellerman depleted)
While bagration had slight advantage in artillery,french had a solid advantage in infantry and retained several fresh squadrons of heavy cavalry.The odds were against bagration.

The whole french left moved into attack around 1:00 pm.Caffarelli attempted to storm Holubitz but was met by devastating russian artilllery fire and forced back.
Suchet advanced his infantry to just out of russian artillery range then brought up Lannes's 12 pounder corps guns.Despite being lesser in number the french heavies had greater range and proceeded to bombard bagration's infantry line.At around 1:30 pm after heavy bombardment suchet launched his attack on bagration's line.The russian infantry doggedly held their ground and drove the french back after a fierce fight.Suchet was wounded and his division had suffered significant casulaities.



Further north D'hautpol charged the 2 battalions of the 5J attempting to withdraw with half(6 sqns) his cuirassier regiment .One battalion was broken and ridden down but the second managed to form square and fend off the atatck until the Cossacks and pavlovgrad hussars launched a countercharge.Faced with this new threat D'hautpol withdrew his squadrons south to reform,murat shifted Kellerman and Walther to cover this move and halt the russian horsmen.(this is why we see d'hautpol in third line behind kellerman and walther in map).The 5J managed to retreat .

SECOND WAVE OF FRENCH ATTACKS:

Caffarelli renewed his attack on Holubitz,this time co-ordinated from 2 directions with 6 battalions and drove back the outnumbered 3 battalions of 6J.Bagration was forced to reinforce this sector with his 3 reserve battalions of AR musketeers.
With a attack down the olmutz road difficult due to presence of massed artillery and the russian left had just been reinforced,Lannes and murat opted to break bagration's stretched line with a simultaneous attack on centre and right.At around 2:00 pm,Suchet's infantry fixed bayonets and charged Bagration's frontline once more.Despite taking heavy losses to the russian musketry,the french scenting victory came on.

(D'Hautpol)
Meanwhile murat unleashed his whole cavalry on Chaplits's Pavlovgrad hussars and cossacks while milhaud and trelliard attacked from the flank.This 2 prong attack was too much and they broke and fled when murat's 3rd line-D'hautpol's armoured cuirassiers joined the fray.
D'hautpol now wheeled right and struck Bagration's infantry line on its exposed left flank.Combined with suchet's bayonet attack bagration's dogged infantry finally collapsed.the cuirassiers conducted an effective pursuit sabring many fleeing enemy infantry.Suchet's infantry also captured 16 guns.Bagration slowed the french pursuit with the Tver dragoons,and with his centre broken withdrew his remaining forces as well.By 3:00 pm french had cleared the area of allied forces.

NEXT: RIGHT WING-ENDGAME
 
BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ-VIII


RIGHT WING : DESTRUCTION OF THE ALLIED COLUMNS

At around 12:30 pm Przbhyshevsky and Olsufiev finally understood the catastrophe on the pratzen heights and stopped any further advance against davout and prepared to withdraw.Davout however would not allow the allied columns before Sokolnitz to disengage,he too had seen the french victory on heights and was determined to keep playing his part-he ordered his reformed battalions forward for a renewed assault at sokolnitz.
At around this time a breathless and panicked Langeron arrived at the scene.Langeron claimed that he had first gone to buxhowden to notify him of the events on the pratzen,but Buxhowden had dismissed him saying - 'You general are seeing the enemy everywhere' to which Langeron shot back - 'And you general,are not in a state to see anything' accusing him of being drunk.Nevertheless Buxhowden refused to divert from the original plan without orders from kutuzov.A desperate langeron now returned to his own column to find reinforcements for the centre(by this time it was too late).Langeron ordered the 2 battalions of Kursk musketeers from his reserve to hurry to kamensky's aid,while he withdrew five more battalions from sokolnitz to the east bank of goldabch(see map),intending these to follow the kursk up the heights to assist kaminsky.




DAVOUT'S ATTACK ON SOKOLNITZ :

Davout refused his right flank protected by sokolnitz pond and on high ground and left Heudelet with 5 battalions(3L,108L) and Bourcier's dragoons as a blocking detatchment against any move from Dokhturov or Kienmeyer.He left 2 battalions and some cavalry on his left flank.With his remaining centre 9 battalions Davout set his sights on Sokolnitz.Shifting the depleted 15Light to his flank he set it to launch a light pinning attack on przbyshevsky's left,while the 33L targeted the hinge of II and III columns.The other 5 battalions would attack sokolnitz from front and left.(3 battalions swing around-see map).
The 33L was unable to make much progress against russian grenadiers while the outnumbered 15Light was halted by russian jaegers(7J) .Further west however russian situation became critical,Langeron had just withdrawn the five battalions of his second line when davout's 5 battalions attacked his remaining 4 battalions at sokolnitz from front and flank,the 4 russian battalions were on verge of encirclement and pushed to the N-E of sokolnitz.
Faced with this sudden threat to the rear ,Langeron reversed 2 of his 5 battalions and send them to reinforce sokolnitz.Unfortunately these now had to recross the goldbach under withering fire from the french garrisoned in buildings on the southern end of sokolnitz and were stalled.At this,Langeron finally gave up the idea of reinforcing the heights and ordered olsufiev to retake sokolnitz with all five.Then he rode off on a desperate mission to Buxhowden to get reinforcements.Meanwhile the 2 battalions of the kursk musketeers that had gone ahead towards the pratzen were now marching forward unsupported.
Meanwhile Davout's success at sokolnitz village exposed Przbyshevsky,and more importantly cut off the bridge through sokolnitz village which was main route of withdrawal.(this bridge was under attack by olsufiev)
The only other bridge over the goldbach was further north,right in the path of the french forces who would soon be sweeping down the pratzen heights.(see map-the 2 bridges around sokolnitz)




SOULT DESCENDS ON THE ALLIED REAR:

As Napoleon gave the signal from his new HQ at St.Anton Chapel ,Soult ordered Levausseur ,till now inactive at Kobelnitz to advance on Sokolnitz -he would have to go through Wimpfen to get to III column's rear(wimpfen had been left behind to by Przbyshevsky to watch Levausseur earlier).Meanwhile 10 battalions of St.Hilaire's division would descend upon II and III column's rear at Sokolnitz.Napoleon ordered 4 of Vandamme's battalions(46L,57L)to support ST.Hilaire.
At some point(exact unknown) the descending french came face to face with the 2 hapless battalions of Kursk Musketeers sent to assist Kaminsky by Langeron.The mass of french infantry simply enveloped this force from all sides which was completely destroyed or taken prisoner.(see map 1)

Vandamme's other 6 battalions(4 battalions of 4L,24light had rallied after their defeat to russian guard cavalry) were to march for Augezd,to Buxhowden's rear and which guarded the single bridge on Buxhowden's Line of retreat east.over the Littawa stream.

Meanwhile Langeron arrived again at Buxhowden's HQ to find him behaving erratically(possibly drunk)and highly stressed.By now Buxhowden had recieved Kutuzov's order to retreat and refused any reinforcements to Langeron to sokolnitz.Langeron now rode back to Sokolnitz to save whatever he could of his column.



(Colour map less accurate,but conveys general idea)
MASSACRE AT SOKOLNITZ:

Wimpfen's battalions faced Levausseur advancing from Kobelnitz and were holding their ground when( black-white map)when St.hilaire's second line 14L,36Light joined the assault overwhelming his right flank.Bulk of Wimpfen's force retreated south towards sokolnitz which was now becoming a deathtrap.On the retreat Wimpfen and part of his force was attacked by Boye's dragoons and captured.
St.Hialire's ten battalions supported by 5 of Levausseur's now arrived on the goldbach and attacked Sokolnitz from the rear.Przbyshevshky found himself in an impossible situation trapped from the front and left by Davout,attacked in the right flank ,by Leavausseur and his rear by ST.Hilaire.The desperate infantry of the III column took refuge in the buildings and castle of sokolnitz.




Russian resistance increasingly disorganized ,broke down into isolated pockets of resistance which the french cleared in savage house to house fighting.Davout's infantry having fought all day and suffered heavily,were exasperated by the obstinate resistance of the rusian infantry who in many cases refused to surrender and gave no quarter.
Przbyshevshky made a desperate breakout to the north towards Kobelnitz with a band of survivors but was soon mopped up and surrendered to Oudinot's grenadiers approaching from that direction.The allied III column had been annihilated.

Langeron saw the fate of III column and knowing he was next,abandoned his 4 trapped battalions at sokolnitz and withdrew with Olsufiev's 5 remaining battalions east of the goldbach that had been trying to retake the village.It was all that remained of II column.
 
VANDAMME TAKES AUGEZD:

With the resistance at Sokolnitz nearing its end Vandamme began his attack on Augezd with his 6 battalions ,he was to be supported by 7 more coming from sokolnitz.
However he was kept at bay for a whole hour by the 12-pdr battery of Sivers who bought the allies invaluable time.Buxhowden who had begun the withdrawal of 12 reserve battalions between tellnitz and Augezd(check map 1) had been at the head of the first 2 which had passed Augezd and managed to retreat east over the Littawa stream.

Stalled before Augezd by Siver's heavy guns, soult ordered Boye's dragoons towards Tellnitz to pursue Kienmeyer and Dokhturov's retreating forces there and harry Langeron's survivors from Sokolnitz.




Finally Vandamme had his own artillery in position and began his assault on Augezd.The 4L leading the fray ,shamed by the loss its eagle -it launched a savage assault followed by the other 2 regiments taking augezd within half an hour-with Sivers's batteries captured..This was a major setback for the allies,.However Vandamme's capture of Augezd now seperated the following 10 battalions from the front 2,these battalions were now trapped between Tellnitz and Augezd and leaderless.Buxhowden who had escaped with 2 battalions,convinced he had been betrayed ,was found raging in a dazed state -''I have been abandoned,I have been sacrificed!''
Kienmeyer and Dokhturov had been belatedly ordered to retreat by Buxhowden as his final act from the west bank of the goldbach and were about to crowd into the same area between Augezd and Tellnitz.Langeron's 5 battalions were also heading the same way.The allies now had no escape route except over and around the frozen Satchan pond and nearby marshes.

BACKS TO THE WALL:FINAL ROUT -




The french hemmed in the allies from all sides,to the north Dokhturov's eleven battalions and Kienmeyer were streaming back towards tellnitz intending to escape through a narrow causeway west of the stachan pond,they were being harassed by Davout's right(5-6 battalions) which he had left on the defensive and Bourcier's dragoons.Boye's dragoons dispatched by Soult to harass these forces were effectively stalled by the superb O'reilly chevauxlegers which greatly displeased napoleon.




By the time the O'reilly had been forced back with the aid of the french guard artillery,the remaining allied troops had degenerated into a desperate mass of fugitives fleeing across the ponds (luckily not deep enough to drown completely) as the french closed in from all sides scooping up thousands of prisoners.All the artillery had to be abandoned,and Napoleon ordered the french artillery to fire on the icy pond breaking the ice drowning several men.While Napoleonic propaganda numbered them in several thousands actual number was probably around 200.Sivers and O'reilly had saved a large remnant of first column from total annihilation.Davout and Soult's men having fought all day were too exhausted to carry out a vigorous pursuit acroos the icy ponds and swamps.



(The Ice breaks on the Satchan)
OTHER SECTORS:
In the north Bagration had collected his forces for a last stand against the french unable to retreat due to the large body of french cavalry,when to his good fortune 2 austrian batteries from the rear arrived.Bagration positioned these on elevated positions while he conducted a phased withdrawal ,the guns stalling a french pursuit.Lannes and murat persisted for a while..but with daylight dwindling and having recieved no news from Napoleon Murat decided to hold their current position.

In the centre ,Bernadotte found the russian guard at Krenowitz retreating but the town garrisoned by jaegers and reinforced by 3 fresh life greandier battalions.The bridge was protected by a artillery battery.Deducing that storming the bridge and town would be very costly Bernadotte called off Drouet's infantry.

The Battle of the Three Emperors was over.

NEXT:AFTERMATH AND ANALYSIS
 
AFTERMATH AND ANALYSIS

LOSSES:
The allies suffered enormous losses -~16,000 Killed and wounded and 12,000 prisoners.1/3rd of the allied army had been wiped out.Allies also lost 197 guns -70% of their whole artillery and 50 regimental standards.
The french lost a mere 1300 killed and 7000 wounded and lost 1 eagle.
As the sun went down the french soldiers stood masters of the field,they and their emperor had won France's greatest victory on the battlefield.A satisfied napoleon issued a jubiliant proclamation to his soldiers. -
"Soldiers: I am pleased with you. In the Battle of Austerlitz you have justified all that I expected from your intrepidity. You have decorated your eagles with immortal glory. An army of one hundred thousand men, commanded by the Emperors of Russia and Austria, has been, in less than four hours, either cut in pieces or dispersed. Thus in two months the third coalition has been vanquished and dissolved. Peace can not now be far distant. But I will make only such a peace as gives us guarantee for our future, and secures rewards to our allies. When everything necessary to secure the happiness and prosperity of our country is obtained, I will lead you back to France. My people will behold you again with joy. It will be enough for one of you to say, 'I was at the battle of Austerlitz;' for all your fellow citizens to exclaim, 'There is a brave man.'"


AFTERMATH:
Austerlitz ended the third coalition.Austria sued for peace the next day with an audience between Napoleon and Francis resulting in the Treaty of Pressberg.The harsh terms which led to a huge war indemnity and considerable loss of territory for austria ensured that she would rise to once again challenge france in the future.Several austrian officers were purged,Weyrother died heartbroken within a few months.Archduke Charles began the new reform process.

The prussian envoy who had arrived at the french camp to deliver the prussian ultimatum watched the rout of teh allied army and promptly changed the letter.Napoleon was not fooled and brusqely told the ambassador when presented with a letter of congratulations -''It seems the letter has been all too recently readdressed''.With the entire grande army camped in southern germany and russia and austria out of the war,prussia was cowed into a formal alliance with france.


The battle was a learning experience for young czar alexander.Initially shocked by the defeat he was found to the rear weeping under a tree,but soon regained his composure.The battered remnants of the army retreated back to russia,but it didn't make formal peace with france until 1807.

In Britain at first austerlitz was dismissed as a rumor,for one month british newspapers projected it as a allied victory.The truth hit home when napoleon presented his peace terms to austria.A heartbroken William Pitt,architect of the 3rd coalition died soonafter from ill-health.Before his death he famously prophesized -''Roll up that map of Europe,it will not be needed these 10 years''.With the British home islands secured by Nelson's destruction of the french navy at Trafalgar britain remained defiant against napoleonic france.
The news of the victory was met with delirium in paris.The captured guns were melted down to build the victory column that still stands.

In all,Napoleon had dealt a massive and fatal blow to the third coalition that left Austria crushed,Russia humiliated,Prussia scared out of her wits and Britain shorn of her continental allies.France stood on the continent and Napoleon Bonaparte was on his way to becoming master of Europe.
Some historians also consider austerlitz as sowing the seedsof his downfall.Before austerlitz Napoleon's wars had been reactionary .After austerlitz ,his foreign policy became increasingly imperialistic and arrogant.The incredible success may have fueled his megalomania.


BATTLE ANALYSIS:
Austerlitz is considered one of the greatest tactical masterpieces of military history alongside the likes of Cannae,Leuthen,Gaugamela etc.The luring of the allied army,the perfect timing of strategic reinforcements,superb use of terrain all showed Bonaparte at the zenith of his military glory.There were several causes of the french success.

CHOOSING THE BATTLEFIELD-USE OF TERRAIN:
Napoleon fought the battle on ground he had selected over a week ago.The use of terrain was superb.The goldbach with the easily defended villages of tellnitz and sokolnitz were perfect to anchor the weak french right wing,while the french centre remained hidden behind the village of Puntowitz.Napoleon purposedly gave up the high ground and then seized it back mid battle.In several parts of the battlefield the french used broken/constricted terrain to delay or stall numerically superior allied forces.

DECEPTION:
Napoleon wholly decieved allied command as to both his actual strength and intentions.The weakening of the right wing,and the feigned withdrawal from the pratzen fooled the allies completely.

ALLIED OVERCONFIDENCE:
The allies's overconfidence contributed to their downfall as they assumed napoleon helpless before them.This failure to acknowledge the independent will of the enemy meant they took no measures to protect against a french counterblow.

SECURITY AND SURPRISE:
Despite the seemingly weak right wing Napoleon had actually taken measures to secure this sector ,with davout's corps and was prepared to reinforce him with oudinot's division.Even if the allies had broken through,Napoleon had a secondary line of communications.
Napoleon surprised the allies completely twice,strategically with Davout and Bernadotte's addition and tactically with his counterattack on the pratzen.

CONCENTRATION OF FORCE AND ECONOMY OF EFFORT:
Napoleon maintained a perfect balance between concentration and economy of effort,massing a powerful force in his center(concentration) while retaining just enough to keep the allies at bay on his right flank with inferior forces(economy).
The allies meanwhile overloaded their left wing attack columns and thus didn't have enough troops to defend their centre.

TIMING:
Napoleon's timing was impeccable,both in arrival of strategic reinforcements on the day of battle and also in soult's centre attack.The reverse could be said of the leisurely allied attack on the french right.

LEADERSHIP:
French officers generally outperformed their counterparts in this battle.Their co-ordination was better and smoother(Vandamme-St hilaire or LanNes-Murat vs Langeron-Przbyshevshky-Buxhowden for example).Most of the corps commanders performed their tasks well,with davout and soult being exceptional.On the allied side Buxhowden was a liability,miloradovich underperformed.Above all Napoleon outthought allied high command.

CONTROL:
Austerlitz is a classic example of a rare control battle-where a commander manages to impose his will on the enemy to an extent that the enemy is manipulated into doing exactly what he desires.(Usually in a battle,opposing commanders act and react to other other as battle flows)
Napoleon toyed with allied high command making them act as if in his own words 'they were acting on my orders'.In a way the allies had lost half the battle the minute they committed to it.
''Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win'' -Sun Tzu.
This level of battlefield control is exhibited in very few battles in history,cannae being the other prime example.(U.S army manuals describe austerlitz as a control battle example)
Napoleon later boasted of all his sixty battles austerlitz was the easiest and most decisive.

Credits-references.
Austerlitz 1805-R.Goetz
Campaigns of Napoleon -D.Chandler
Austerlitz:Empire at its zenith
Obscure battles blog
Napoleonistyka website
Austerlitz animated project - Uoregon.edu website.

Thats it.Thanks for reading this LOOONG series.
 
Austerlitz:

Thanks all,especially @LeveragedBuyout ,@vostok ,@Nihonjin1051 ,@Omega007 ,@Oscar ,@scorpionx,@Koovie and all others who have went along through the whole of it.

Leveraged buyout:

No, the pleasure was all mine. I am in awe at the time and meticulous research that you put into these pieces, and I enjoyed them immensely. Thank you!

Darmashkian said:
Beautiful.... Utterly Beautiful!! @AUSTERLITZ Truly you have researched & written a brilliant set of essays in this article!

This is truly one of the wonders of this forum!!

VIVE L'EMPEREUR!! VIVE LE NAPOLEON!!

@Picdelamirand-oil @Gabriel92 @Vergennes Do have a look at this thread
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@AUSTERLITZ Have you seen Voyna I Mir(The Russan lang film sponsored by the Soviet govt.)? There are some good battle scenes from that of the Napoleonic wars-Hollabrunn,Austerlitz & Borodino & the Cossack raids while the La Grand Armee departs Russia. Though I don't know if the plot is itself historically accurat.

All the parts are on Dailymotion though they vary in length. Overall they are about 8 hours long.English subtitles are there


A certain unfortunate general makes his appearance in the first part at 55:00 :partay:

Austerlitz starts & ends in the second part. Borodino starts in the 6th path & ends in the 7th Part.

Here is a scene from the battle of Hollabrunn staring General Bagration. I really love the French marching music here! Do you know where we can the get the music of the military/marching bands/drums online?

Here is a Russian folk song sung by the RUssian army on it's way to meet up with General Mack before they realise he has been defeated.

P.S:- I have two doubts.
1)They Say Kutuzov didn't take part in the planning before Austerlitz & is suppsoed to have privately told a confidant that he believes they will lose. He did his best to keep as many troops on the Heights as long as he could knowing the importance of it.
Had he been given total control of the battle,could the battle have been won?

2)Had YOU been the supreme commander in chief at Austerlitz. What would you have done to win the battle?

Afterall weren't there good commanders & more formidable troops on the Centre & the Left Flank on the French Army?

No, I'm serious & am asking this as a fellow Total War gamer.... Do you think a total assault on the centre by the Russians+ leading to Davout moving towards the heights could be possible?

Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Austerlitz:

Thank you.
Kutuzov given freedom could have been effective before the russians decided on battle,once they decided to give battle..the way bonaparte set it up it wouldnt make much difference..perhaps fight would have been a bit harder at the centre.You have to understand ...the french imperial guard infantry,oudinots elite grenadier division and most of bernadotte's corps in the french side didnt even see combat.

I think i might have done more or less similar to the allied strategy,maybe left 10,000 troops more at the centre instead of total overload on one wing.But u have to understand ..a commanders choice is made by intelligence...allied intelligence never factored davout's and bernadotte's corps to be present...if those were not ,allies would have been easily successful.The tactics on the day of battle was less important than the way napoleon set up the battle strategically,even if i keep 10k more troops in centre still french have enough elite infantry reserves to break through as i noted earlier.Its really checkmate the moment allies committed to the battle.Napoleon knew this..thats why the moment he recieved news allied forces were on the move at midnight he said in 24 hrs that army is mine.

No attack on the centre would have bogged down completely..they had no intelligence.Moreover a whole french corps of 16,000 of soult was hidden on the reverse slope...the allied first column would have been shredded in an ambush.Secondly being on the reverse slope french troops would be protected from artillery.
Finally there was fog until 9;00...so attack would not progress at all.Meanwhile davout and bernadotte's free corps would double envelop them.(leaving bagration to lannes/murat and weak allied left wing to legrand and if needed oudinot(who could also reinforce centre),imperial guard would still be in reserve)
 
Austerlitz was an absolute gem of knowledge and analysis and is surely missed - unfortunately the last place was too acerbic and out of control for his type on input.
 
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