A different Finnish War
- Thread starter von Adler
- Start date
1812-01-22.
The situation might look bleak for Napoleon, but he would not be the Emperor if he did not make the best of the situation. In Saxony, he has an army of roughly 80 000 men, by now at least partially able to function again. Davout, having ridden hard for Paris is making another army of green recruits ready to march across the Rhine and the Rhine Confederacy is slowly mobilising about 100 000 men.
In the Kingdom of Italy, de Beauharnais is raising another army - the intention was to supplement the Italian troops in the Grande Armée, but now it seems like de Beauharnais will have to use them to defend Italy.
The Austrian declaration of war have caught the Italians and their French allies in Italy with their breeches down, and de Beauharnais is scrambling to put up a credible defence. Despite seriosu misgivings, he evacuates Illyria and leaves it to be occupied by an Austrian force of some 8 000 commanded by von Hiller.
However, de Beauharnais is a skilled organiser and a determined commander - the forces from Illyria is joined together with the newly raised troops in Italy to a force of some 30 000. This force steals a Winter March on the Austrian forces gathering in Türol and advances into northern Illyria.
As the Italian force advances, the Austrians panic. At Trieste, von Hiller tries to stem the tide but is troucned and his force mostly routed.
The main Austrian forces are still mobilising, and von Schwarzenberg and his force are still in Hungary marching west after parlaying with Tomasov. In panic, the Austrian Emperor Franz I turned to the only man he and his council believed could save him - Archduke Karl.
The situation might look bleak for Napoleon, but he would not be the Emperor if he did not make the best of the situation. In Saxony, he has an army of roughly 80 000 men, by now at least partially able to function again. Davout, having ridden hard for Paris is making another army of green recruits ready to march across the Rhine and the Rhine Confederacy is slowly mobilising about 100 000 men.
In the Kingdom of Italy, de Beauharnais is raising another army - the intention was to supplement the Italian troops in the Grande Armée, but now it seems like de Beauharnais will have to use them to defend Italy.
The Austrian declaration of war have caught the Italians and their French allies in Italy with their breeches down, and de Beauharnais is scrambling to put up a credible defence. Despite seriosu misgivings, he evacuates Illyria and leaves it to be occupied by an Austrian force of some 8 000 commanded by von Hiller.
However, de Beauharnais is a skilled organiser and a determined commander - the forces from Illyria is joined together with the newly raised troops in Italy to a force of some 30 000. This force steals a Winter March on the Austrian forces gathering in Türol and advances into northern Illyria.
As the Italian force advances, the Austrians panic. At Trieste, von Hiller tries to stem the tide but is troucned and his force mostly routed.
The main Austrian forces are still mobilising, and von Schwarzenberg and his force are still in Hungary marching west after parlaying with Tomasov. In panic, the Austrian Emperor Franz I turned to the only man he and his council believed could save him - Archduke Karl.
Eugene and Karl are finally getting a part in this. 
please don't kill either one of them
please don't kill either one of them Yes, Eugene needs to be part of it. Too awesome a character to leave out.
Napoleon, Eugene, Davout and Bernadotte will be wiggling a lot.
Austria went full in long before they were ready (OTL they waited until August before declaring war) and are now suffering for it. And Archduke Karl is the only one available.
Napoleon, Eugene, Davout and Bernadotte will be wiggling a lot.
Austria went full in long before they were ready (OTL they waited until August before declaring war) and are now suffering for it. And Archduke Karl is the only one available.
1812-02-15.
"I saw him. We were making camp in Silesia, raising tents, getting fires going to have a nice evening meal when a group of riders aproached. Initially, we tought it was a bunch of Cossacks trying to mooch of our supplies again. Then we saw the uniforms. Clean, stark in colours. Officers!
I yelled to the men to get up in line and we hastily formed a line to stand at attention. I was about to present the unit when I saw who it was. I am embarrased to admit that the words left me."
Excerpt from a letter from Second Lieutenant Alexej Maitsev to his father, written sometime in February 1812.
"The General was aware of his reputation and while he rode tied to his saddle, his wounds still casuing him severe pain and he took liberal doses of laudanum to take the worst edge off it. As he visited the army in its winter encampment in Prussian Silesia, he inspected most of the army, raising its spirit for the coming campaign against Napoleon. It has been hinted that either fever or the usage of opiates in the form of laudanum caused his words to be confusing, cryptic or even downright disconnected from reality. However, it can be said that a savior is best as a blank page, where the followers can write their own words and it seems like General Bagration could do nothing wrong in the eyes of the troops. The stories of his stoic posture as he was wounded at Valuyev cirkulated and every time the story was retold it was exhaggerated even further. He had taken eighty musket balls. He had staed down an entire French cavalry brigade, which dared not pursue the retreating Russian army in fear of the General. He had taken a cannonball to the chest. Being known for his love for earthworks, having shed blod at Valuyev to inspire the troops and encompassing the Russian ideal of stoicism in the face of harship, it was no wonder he became known as General Blood and Soil.
Regardless of his popularity, he was not placed in field command, but rather as inspector of infantry, a capacity where he could inspire the troops and oversee drill of new recruits - and eventually work out a new tactical manual for the Russian armies."
From "General Blood and Soil - Bagration and his men." by Fjodor Ivanov.
"I remember what he said. He smiled at us, and asked, 'Gentlemen, where are your shovels?' I shall not forget it as long as I live. The men erupted in cheers that could shatter the skies, and scrambled to start fortifying our camp."
Excerpt from a letter from Second Lieutenant Alexej Maitsev to his father, written sometime in February 1812.
"I saw him. We were making camp in Silesia, raising tents, getting fires going to have a nice evening meal when a group of riders aproached. Initially, we tought it was a bunch of Cossacks trying to mooch of our supplies again. Then we saw the uniforms. Clean, stark in colours. Officers!
I yelled to the men to get up in line and we hastily formed a line to stand at attention. I was about to present the unit when I saw who it was. I am embarrased to admit that the words left me."
Excerpt from a letter from Second Lieutenant Alexej Maitsev to his father, written sometime in February 1812.
"The General was aware of his reputation and while he rode tied to his saddle, his wounds still casuing him severe pain and he took liberal doses of laudanum to take the worst edge off it. As he visited the army in its winter encampment in Prussian Silesia, he inspected most of the army, raising its spirit for the coming campaign against Napoleon. It has been hinted that either fever or the usage of opiates in the form of laudanum caused his words to be confusing, cryptic or even downright disconnected from reality. However, it can be said that a savior is best as a blank page, where the followers can write their own words and it seems like General Bagration could do nothing wrong in the eyes of the troops. The stories of his stoic posture as he was wounded at Valuyev cirkulated and every time the story was retold it was exhaggerated even further. He had taken eighty musket balls. He had staed down an entire French cavalry brigade, which dared not pursue the retreating Russian army in fear of the General. He had taken a cannonball to the chest. Being known for his love for earthworks, having shed blod at Valuyev to inspire the troops and encompassing the Russian ideal of stoicism in the face of harship, it was no wonder he became known as General Blood and Soil.
Regardless of his popularity, he was not placed in field command, but rather as inspector of infantry, a capacity where he could inspire the troops and oversee drill of new recruits - and eventually work out a new tactical manual for the Russian armies."
From "General Blood and Soil - Bagration and his men." by Fjodor Ivanov.
"I remember what he said. He smiled at us, and asked, 'Gentlemen, where are your shovels?' I shall not forget it as long as I live. The men erupted in cheers that could shatter the skies, and scrambled to start fortifying our camp."
Excerpt from a letter from Second Lieutenant Alexej Maitsev to his father, written sometime in February 1812.
1812-03-15.
As spring came to Europe, the lines were drawn and the armies marshaled.
In Congress Poland, Kutuzov had roughly 100 000 men, however, many of them were militia or conscripts that would be needed for the spring sowing back home, and others were of the less than reliable irregular cavalry. With new and well-trained recruits and supplies from the motherland as well as the best of Bulatov's and Tomasov's forces, the Russian army for the upcoming campaign would count some 80 000, with reinforcements coming. However, the supply situation in Crongress Poland was less than stellar - Napoleon's retreat had brough most of what could be used away from Poland, and the countryside was full of Grande Armée stragglers and angry patriotic Poles more than willing to support them. While never as bad as what the French faced in Russia, it was still annoying and slowed the Russian forces down.
In Prussia, von Blücher headed a force of at least 120 000 men - and they were awaiting the arrival of Yorck's roghly 30 000. However, as with the Russians, much of this force was militia, and the reforms of Scharnhorst and the other army reformers were not implemented in full yet. The arrival of the German Legion, headed by the now Major General von Clausewitz, from Russia and Sweden increased enthusiasm and added a sprinkle of veterans to the Prussian forces. So while von Blücher argued for an immediate offensive to keep the French off balance, more carious elements of the Prussian leadership wanted to wait for the Austrians to mobilise and the Russians to come over from Poland, unwilling to risk a repeat of the devastating defeats of Jena and Auerstädt 1806.
In Austria, Archduke Karl had managed to contain the advance of de Beauharnais, fielding about 40 000 men, many of them hastily conscripted ot militia, but also the remnants of von Hiller's veteran and proffessional force (it had included most of the guard and standing units left in Austria) and was awaiting the thaw to advance into Italy. Meanwhile, Austria was arming as quickly as possible to go to war. An army of some 150 000 was being built up around von Schwarzenberg's force that had by now encamped in Bohemia, wary of advancing too far and drawing the ire of the French in Saxony. However, getting a larger and more competent force would take time.
In Pommerania, the Swedes had a force of abour 20 000 men, leaving some 10 000 to safeguard Rügen and the port of Stralsund to have a point to retreat to. Under the command of the elderly but still full of vitaly Field Marshal af Klercker, this force found little resistance but still advanced extremely catiously.
In Saxony, Napoleon commanded some 80 000, a mix of new recruits (mostly Poles) and the hardest of the hard that had survived the horrors of Russia. Bernadotte, with a force of some 35 000, mostly Germans, was evacuating Jutland, retreating southward to establish contact with Davout coming from France and to avoid being caught between the Swedish force and the Danes, who were cariously landing a force of some 10 000 to retake their land.
From France, with a force of some 60 000 new French recruits, with a sprinkle of veteran NCOs from Iberia came Davout. Marching through the German Rhine Confederation, he would pick up some 50 000 Germans as well. But the enthusiasm for serving Napoleon was on a serious decline in the Rhine Confederation (as well as all over Germany) and the reliability of the Germans could not be completely trusted.
The stage was thus set for the 1812 German campaign, which would dwarf all other campaigns of the war of the Fifth Coalition - now with its original members back in its ranks.
As spring came to Europe, the lines were drawn and the armies marshaled.
In Congress Poland, Kutuzov had roughly 100 000 men, however, many of them were militia or conscripts that would be needed for the spring sowing back home, and others were of the less than reliable irregular cavalry. With new and well-trained recruits and supplies from the motherland as well as the best of Bulatov's and Tomasov's forces, the Russian army for the upcoming campaign would count some 80 000, with reinforcements coming. However, the supply situation in Crongress Poland was less than stellar - Napoleon's retreat had brough most of what could be used away from Poland, and the countryside was full of Grande Armée stragglers and angry patriotic Poles more than willing to support them. While never as bad as what the French faced in Russia, it was still annoying and slowed the Russian forces down.
In Prussia, von Blücher headed a force of at least 120 000 men - and they were awaiting the arrival of Yorck's roghly 30 000. However, as with the Russians, much of this force was militia, and the reforms of Scharnhorst and the other army reformers were not implemented in full yet. The arrival of the German Legion, headed by the now Major General von Clausewitz, from Russia and Sweden increased enthusiasm and added a sprinkle of veterans to the Prussian forces. So while von Blücher argued for an immediate offensive to keep the French off balance, more carious elements of the Prussian leadership wanted to wait for the Austrians to mobilise and the Russians to come over from Poland, unwilling to risk a repeat of the devastating defeats of Jena and Auerstädt 1806.
In Austria, Archduke Karl had managed to contain the advance of de Beauharnais, fielding about 40 000 men, many of them hastily conscripted ot militia, but also the remnants of von Hiller's veteran and proffessional force (it had included most of the guard and standing units left in Austria) and was awaiting the thaw to advance into Italy. Meanwhile, Austria was arming as quickly as possible to go to war. An army of some 150 000 was being built up around von Schwarzenberg's force that had by now encamped in Bohemia, wary of advancing too far and drawing the ire of the French in Saxony. However, getting a larger and more competent force would take time.
In Pommerania, the Swedes had a force of abour 20 000 men, leaving some 10 000 to safeguard Rügen and the port of Stralsund to have a point to retreat to. Under the command of the elderly but still full of vitaly Field Marshal af Klercker, this force found little resistance but still advanced extremely catiously.
In Saxony, Napoleon commanded some 80 000, a mix of new recruits (mostly Poles) and the hardest of the hard that had survived the horrors of Russia. Bernadotte, with a force of some 35 000, mostly Germans, was evacuating Jutland, retreating southward to establish contact with Davout coming from France and to avoid being caught between the Swedish force and the Danes, who were cariously landing a force of some 10 000 to retake their land.
From France, with a force of some 60 000 new French recruits, with a sprinkle of veteran NCOs from Iberia came Davout. Marching through the German Rhine Confederation, he would pick up some 50 000 Germans as well. But the enthusiasm for serving Napoleon was on a serious decline in the Rhine Confederation (as well as all over Germany) and the reliability of the Germans could not be completely trusted.
The stage was thus set for the 1812 German campaign, which would dwarf all other campaigns of the war of the Fifth Coalition - now with its original members back in its ranks.
1812-03-20.
While the lines were being drawn in Germany, a meeting of the allies were set up in Königsberg, Prussia.
In attendance were;
King Gustav IV Adolf, representing Sweden.
Czar Alexander I, representing Russia.
King Friedrich Wilhelm III, representing Prussia.
Prince Metternich, representing Austria.
General Moore, representing Great Britain and by special temporary permission, La Romana's Regency of Spain.
Almost immediately, the meeting descended into bickering. While King Gustav IV Adolf made bold statements about the need for an immediate offensive, he proved unwilling to actually prod af Klercker into more decisive action - so far, the Swedish army had only liberated Swedish Pommerania and made tenative contact with Bernadotte's retreating force, pursuing slowly and at a long distance, making sure to keep their lines of supply and retreat open and well-protected.
The Prussians, while generally in favour of action considered the allied army in the field capable of taking the offensive (discounting new recruits and militia) too small, and wanted to await the arrival of more Russian forces and the mobilisation of the Austrian army.
The Austrians seemed to be unwilling to make any guarantees as to when and where they would commit their forces, to the extent that the Prussians and Russians started suspect that they would commit most of their forces to Archduke Karl's army in northern Italy and leave the allies in Germany high and dry.
Czar Alexander on his part favoured immediate and bold action, being well aware on the status of the French army when it had left Poland and wanting to get his forces out of the quagmire Congress Poland had become.
In the end, it was General Moore that kept the bickering from descending into infighting. Armed with good news from the Iberian front, where Wellesley and La Romana were advancing on King Joseph's French puppet state (of increasingly bleak outlook) and plenty of subsidies, he managed to hammer out an agreement.
The Swedish army will remain in northern Germany, to guard against Bernadotte's forces and be the link between the small Danish army currently liberating Jutland and the Prussian forces in Prussian Hinterpommern.
The Russian army will march into Prussia and join forces with the Prussians and attempt to keep Napoleon occupied until such time as the Austrians can join the fray.
The Austrians will remain on the defensive in Bohemia until they have mobilised fully and then join the battle for Germany. All agree that driving Napoleon out of Germany and invade France from the east is the top priority of all allied states and that any Italian campaign of Austria is to be delayed until such time as when the French forces have left Germany completely.
While this was a huge success of General Moore and his diplomatic ability, both in Sweden and in Prussia had been noticed in Great Britain, he would leave immediately after the conference to his new command - the British West Indees and engage himself in the planning for the next step in the battle against the USA.
While Brock and Tecumseh had defeated all attempts at American invasions of Upper Canada and had indeed started raiding and establishing a line of forts that would eventually threaten to cut off the Americans from the western parts of the Great Lakes, Great Britain had grown annoyed at the Americans and planned to end the war in a three-pronged offensive.
While Tecumseh, Brock and Provost would launch attacks on the American forces in the north, Major General Robert Ross would land and aim to capture either New York or Washington and General Moore would land in New Orleans and attempt to sieze southern Louisiana for Spain, as the La Romana regency refused to acknoweldge the French right to sell the territory to USA, claiming it to still be Spanish territory.
While the lines were being drawn in Germany, a meeting of the allies were set up in Königsberg, Prussia.
In attendance were;
King Gustav IV Adolf, representing Sweden.
Czar Alexander I, representing Russia.
King Friedrich Wilhelm III, representing Prussia.
Prince Metternich, representing Austria.
General Moore, representing Great Britain and by special temporary permission, La Romana's Regency of Spain.
Almost immediately, the meeting descended into bickering. While King Gustav IV Adolf made bold statements about the need for an immediate offensive, he proved unwilling to actually prod af Klercker into more decisive action - so far, the Swedish army had only liberated Swedish Pommerania and made tenative contact with Bernadotte's retreating force, pursuing slowly and at a long distance, making sure to keep their lines of supply and retreat open and well-protected.
The Prussians, while generally in favour of action considered the allied army in the field capable of taking the offensive (discounting new recruits and militia) too small, and wanted to await the arrival of more Russian forces and the mobilisation of the Austrian army.
The Austrians seemed to be unwilling to make any guarantees as to when and where they would commit their forces, to the extent that the Prussians and Russians started suspect that they would commit most of their forces to Archduke Karl's army in northern Italy and leave the allies in Germany high and dry.
Czar Alexander on his part favoured immediate and bold action, being well aware on the status of the French army when it had left Poland and wanting to get his forces out of the quagmire Congress Poland had become.
In the end, it was General Moore that kept the bickering from descending into infighting. Armed with good news from the Iberian front, where Wellesley and La Romana were advancing on King Joseph's French puppet state (of increasingly bleak outlook) and plenty of subsidies, he managed to hammer out an agreement.
The Swedish army will remain in northern Germany, to guard against Bernadotte's forces and be the link between the small Danish army currently liberating Jutland and the Prussian forces in Prussian Hinterpommern.
The Russian army will march into Prussia and join forces with the Prussians and attempt to keep Napoleon occupied until such time as the Austrians can join the fray.
The Austrians will remain on the defensive in Bohemia until they have mobilised fully and then join the battle for Germany. All agree that driving Napoleon out of Germany and invade France from the east is the top priority of all allied states and that any Italian campaign of Austria is to be delayed until such time as when the French forces have left Germany completely.
While this was a huge success of General Moore and his diplomatic ability, both in Sweden and in Prussia had been noticed in Great Britain, he would leave immediately after the conference to his new command - the British West Indees and engage himself in the planning for the next step in the battle against the USA.
While Brock and Tecumseh had defeated all attempts at American invasions of Upper Canada and had indeed started raiding and establishing a line of forts that would eventually threaten to cut off the Americans from the western parts of the Great Lakes, Great Britain had grown annoyed at the Americans and planned to end the war in a three-pronged offensive.
While Tecumseh, Brock and Provost would launch attacks on the American forces in the north, Major General Robert Ross would land and aim to capture either New York or Washington and General Moore would land in New Orleans and attempt to sieze southern Louisiana for Spain, as the La Romana regency refused to acknoweldge the French right to sell the territory to USA, claiming it to still be Spanish territory.
Uff Da the optimist
Donor
Wow this is really cool, two awesome updates so rapidly!
With war on both continents affected by butterflies, it'll be interesting to see where we end up. It must be strange for Sweden and Denmark to deal with the akwardness of being age-old enemies fighting on the same side. Unlike OTL Sweden got to keep Finland AND get Norway.
Let's just hope they don't get victory disease!
How is the sentiment in the german areas under Napoleon? Is there any sense of oppression, or resistance due to nationalism?
Someone should make you a map, it would be lovely to see!
Keep it up, me gusta
With war on both continents affected by butterflies, it'll be interesting to see where we end up. It must be strange for Sweden and Denmark to deal with the akwardness of being age-old enemies fighting on the same side. Unlike OTL Sweden got to keep Finland AND get Norway.
Let's just hope they don't get victory disease!
How is the sentiment in the german areas under Napoleon? Is there any sense of oppression, or resistance due to nationalism?
Someone should make you a map, it would be lovely to see!
Keep it up, me gusta
Wow this is really cool, two awesome updates so rapidly!
With war on both continents affected by butterflies, it'll be interesting to see where we end up. It must be strange for Sweden and Denmark to deal with the akwardness of being age-old enemies fighting on the same side. Unlike OTL Sweden got to keep Finland AND get Norway.
Let's just hope they don't get victory disease!
How is the sentiment in the german areas under Napoleon? Is there any sense of oppression, or resistance due to nationalism?
Someone should make you a map, it would be lovely to see!
Keep it up, me gusta
Thansk for the comment. As for the Germans, it is covered in this section on the armies gathering in Germany.
So far it is pretty much OTL except that Brock is still alive. The British and their native allies hold a bit more terrain around the great lakes as a result. The big changes will probably be the invasion of New Orleans, which will both be stronger (with Denmark and Sweden as allies, the Royal Navy is a bit less stretched), better lead (by Moore) and more numerous (more Marines and the West Indees regiment less stretched due to not garrisoning Danish Virgin Islands and Guadeloupe). The naval battle of the great lakes might also turn out differently.
1812-04-02.
It would become known as 'the German dash' or alternatively 'the French wiggle' and would be studied for decades, if not hundreds of years as a masterpiece of manouvre warfare at the same levels as the Grodno campaign of 1706, even though it was less decisive.
Basing himself in Saxony, Napoleon had fed his troops well, absorbed reinforcements, raised Polish troops and recieved a surprising amount of stragglers - the last French troops rejoining his troops are said to have been a group of dehorsed Hussars and light infantrymen, a dozen men in all that emerged from the Pripyat marshes in laye July to join him in August!
Correctly judging that the Austrians would not move from Bohemia until they had more troops, Napoleon sent Macdonald and Ney with roughly 30 000 men eastward from Leipzig. In mid-april they silently entered Dresden, crossed the Elbe and fell over the advance guard of Kutuzov, a Corps under command of Bulatov.
The Russian troops were caught unawares, and in a single day sharp action they were routed almost to a man, and Bülow and his Prussian II. Corps could only help repel the pursuing French cavalry and allow Bulatov's forces to reform.
Having temporarily stopped the Russian army in its tracks, drawn off parts of the best of the Prussian forces at a meagre cost of some 2 000 causalties, cuasing the Russians nearly 8 000, Macdonald and Ney retreated back over the Elbe, burning its bridges behind them.
In the meantime, Napoleon sent his fresh Polish recruits northwards along the east bank of the Saale river into Brandenburg, looting and attacking the local militia. As intended, this drew the ire of the ever aggressive von Blücher, who rushed out with roughly half the Prussian army and a large force of militia, a force of some 60 000 in total, brushing the inexperienced Polish cavalry aside before running headlong into the trap Napoleon had prepared for him. On the first of May 1812, Napoleon himself trashed von Blüchers force just nort of Halle, casuing the Prussians just above 9 000 casualties, while suffering less than 3 000 of his own.
At the same time, Davout had rushed ahead out of the Rhine Confederation, bringing the best troops, most of the cavalry and in the process sucking up all French and other veteran troops of Bernadotte's Corps - to the latter's vain protests - to deal with af Klercker and his Swedish army slowly advancing southeast from Pommerania.
45 000 French, of which more than 15 000 were cavalry (most of which were intended to replace Naploen's depleted cavalry force) crashed into the Swedes on the 3rd of May 1812.
While af Klercker is usually considered a good general, if somewhat catious, that always kept his options open, he was certainly no Davout. Commanding a joint force of some 50 000, including 1 000 British, 2 000 Danes and 10 000 Prussians (a mix between militia and regular forces) he occupied a ridgeline, erected some rudimentary field fortifications and had his light infantry erect hinders of sharpened poles dug into the ground at the flanks to prevent the superior French cavalry from flanking him.
At that day, the Swedes learned the hard way the superiority of a Napoleonic grand battery of light-weight but strong 12pdr guns over their spread.ut 3pdr guns and smaller supporting battery of 6pdr and heavier 12pdr guns.
The rudimentary earth works could not resist the French fire, and soon the Swedish line was buckling - before ther French line infantry had even reached it. The fight was short and soon the Swedish army was routing through the entire line. It was only the preserverance of Finnish-speaking Jäger light infantry and veteran gunners manning 3pdr guns moved around like pistols in the retreat as well as the French cavalry either having to navigate a their own troops which had become disorganised in the retreat or the by now abandoned sharpened stakes that saved the Swedish army from complete annihilation at the hands of Davout and his army.
The stand of the Prussian militia in a forest on the Swedish right flank also helped, as did the fact that Davout considered the Swedish army the lesser threat - he was in a hurry to join forces with Napoleon in Saxony and bring him horses for his dehorsed cavalry - there was no time to pursue and destroy the Swedish army.
Davout's mnen suffered only around 1 000 casualties, while the Swedish army and its allies suffered more than 7 000 in total.
While Napoleon and Davout had inflicted a series of stinging defeats on the allies of the fifth coalition, there was a big difference compared to the campaigns of 1805, 1807 and 1808. While the allied armies were defeated, they kept together and kept in the field. Despite his victories, Napoleon could not force any of his enemies' armies to quit the field and dissolve. And the strategic situation remained the same, even if the Prussians, Russians and Swedes were licking their wounds, they were all relatively close to their sources of men and supply and could replace their casualties. Napoleon could not in the same way.
It would become known as 'the German dash' or alternatively 'the French wiggle' and would be studied for decades, if not hundreds of years as a masterpiece of manouvre warfare at the same levels as the Grodno campaign of 1706, even though it was less decisive.
Basing himself in Saxony, Napoleon had fed his troops well, absorbed reinforcements, raised Polish troops and recieved a surprising amount of stragglers - the last French troops rejoining his troops are said to have been a group of dehorsed Hussars and light infantrymen, a dozen men in all that emerged from the Pripyat marshes in laye July to join him in August!
Correctly judging that the Austrians would not move from Bohemia until they had more troops, Napoleon sent Macdonald and Ney with roughly 30 000 men eastward from Leipzig. In mid-april they silently entered Dresden, crossed the Elbe and fell over the advance guard of Kutuzov, a Corps under command of Bulatov.
The Russian troops were caught unawares, and in a single day sharp action they were routed almost to a man, and Bülow and his Prussian II. Corps could only help repel the pursuing French cavalry and allow Bulatov's forces to reform.
Having temporarily stopped the Russian army in its tracks, drawn off parts of the best of the Prussian forces at a meagre cost of some 2 000 causalties, cuasing the Russians nearly 8 000, Macdonald and Ney retreated back over the Elbe, burning its bridges behind them.
In the meantime, Napoleon sent his fresh Polish recruits northwards along the east bank of the Saale river into Brandenburg, looting and attacking the local militia. As intended, this drew the ire of the ever aggressive von Blücher, who rushed out with roughly half the Prussian army and a large force of militia, a force of some 60 000 in total, brushing the inexperienced Polish cavalry aside before running headlong into the trap Napoleon had prepared for him. On the first of May 1812, Napoleon himself trashed von Blüchers force just nort of Halle, casuing the Prussians just above 9 000 casualties, while suffering less than 3 000 of his own.
At the same time, Davout had rushed ahead out of the Rhine Confederation, bringing the best troops, most of the cavalry and in the process sucking up all French and other veteran troops of Bernadotte's Corps - to the latter's vain protests - to deal with af Klercker and his Swedish army slowly advancing southeast from Pommerania.
45 000 French, of which more than 15 000 were cavalry (most of which were intended to replace Naploen's depleted cavalry force) crashed into the Swedes on the 3rd of May 1812.
While af Klercker is usually considered a good general, if somewhat catious, that always kept his options open, he was certainly no Davout. Commanding a joint force of some 50 000, including 1 000 British, 2 000 Danes and 10 000 Prussians (a mix between militia and regular forces) he occupied a ridgeline, erected some rudimentary field fortifications and had his light infantry erect hinders of sharpened poles dug into the ground at the flanks to prevent the superior French cavalry from flanking him.
At that day, the Swedes learned the hard way the superiority of a Napoleonic grand battery of light-weight but strong 12pdr guns over their spread.ut 3pdr guns and smaller supporting battery of 6pdr and heavier 12pdr guns.
The rudimentary earth works could not resist the French fire, and soon the Swedish line was buckling - before ther French line infantry had even reached it. The fight was short and soon the Swedish army was routing through the entire line. It was only the preserverance of Finnish-speaking Jäger light infantry and veteran gunners manning 3pdr guns moved around like pistols in the retreat as well as the French cavalry either having to navigate a their own troops which had become disorganised in the retreat or the by now abandoned sharpened stakes that saved the Swedish army from complete annihilation at the hands of Davout and his army.
The stand of the Prussian militia in a forest on the Swedish right flank also helped, as did the fact that Davout considered the Swedish army the lesser threat - he was in a hurry to join forces with Napoleon in Saxony and bring him horses for his dehorsed cavalry - there was no time to pursue and destroy the Swedish army.
Davout's mnen suffered only around 1 000 casualties, while the Swedish army and its allies suffered more than 7 000 in total.
While Napoleon and Davout had inflicted a series of stinging defeats on the allies of the fifth coalition, there was a big difference compared to the campaigns of 1805, 1807 and 1808. While the allied armies were defeated, they kept together and kept in the field. Despite his victories, Napoleon could not force any of his enemies' armies to quit the field and dissolve. And the strategic situation remained the same, even if the Prussians, Russians and Swedes were licking their wounds, they were all relatively close to their sources of men and supply and could replace their casualties. Napoleon could not in the same way.
I just found this TL and caught up over the past few days. Very nice. Keep going.
I wonder how a stronger French force in 1813 would affect the War of 1812 and the respective British reinforcements sent in 1813/14.
I wonder how a stronger French force in 1813 would affect the War of 1812 and the respective British reinforcements sent in 1813/14.
Since Davout has brought in a great number of horses, there is a chance that Napoléon would be able to exploit his successes, especially when IOTL, he missed potential decisive victories over Coalition forces because he lacked cavalry to exploit his early victories.
It looks like Napoléon is not over. I imagine that he could push Russian back into Poland before turning on Austrians in Bohemia.
Still, his prestige received a terrible blow in Russia and he still has Spanish front to care.
It looks like Napoléon is not over. I imagine that he could push Russian back into Poland before turning on Austrians in Bohemia.
Still, his prestige received a terrible blow in Russia and he still has Spanish front to care.