MARSHAL LOUIS N. DAVOUT AND THE ART OF COMMAND A ...

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They were compelled to fight from house to house due to the Austrian's defenses. After about two hours and some assistance from the French cavalry they were succe~sful.~ Lannes' success, and the Wurttemberger's action in the center, forced the Austrians on the French right to fall back on the Laichlings. This meant that Davout was facing most of the Austrians necessitating a change of plans. He was facing the Austrians originally to his front as well as those who had retreated before Lannes and the Wurttembergers. These additional Austrians forced the 10th Regiment from St Hilaire's Division back to the hanging woods above Unter-Laichling losing the ground they had gained earlier. To relieve this pressure Davout directed Friant, who was to St Hilariers left, to attack in full force. ' Friant positioned his artiliery to support an attack by four infantry regiments.This attack went slowly due to the breastworks the Austrians had thrown up during the night. Finally, the 48th Regiment from Friantls Division stormed the position forcing the Austrians to retreat. As a result, St Hilaire gained the necessary time to bring up more units to recapture Unter-Laichling. Davout now controlled both villages and the woods beyond them. His quick actions prevented the Austrians from retreating or reassembling their forces once they had broken contact with Lannes and the Wurttembergers. In
effect, Davoutfs forces became the anvil as Napoleon . .hammered the Austrians into him. It was a most difficult situation for the 1ron Marshal but he and his soldiers performed well. Davout's quick actions enabled I11 Corps to stabilize the situation and contribute decisively to the defeat of the Austrians. Only Rosenberg, to Davout's south facing Lefebvrels Bavarian divisions, had achieved any success in the afternoon. During Napoleon's initial advance around one o'clock, Rosenberg had withdrawn his forces to the top of the Bettelberg. This position was very strong and forced the French to attack uphill. H.e secured this small bald hilltop with sixteen artillery pieces and most of his cavalry, repelling both the Bavarian cavalry and Deroi's in£ antry. At about 3:30 P.M. the French heavy cavalry' arrived at the base of the Bettelberg. Nansouty and St Sulpice collected over twenty squadrons of cuirassiers. They galloped forward charging the artillery and twenty- two squadrons of the Austrian cavalry defending the hill. Charging uphill against superior odds, the French horseman cleared the Austrians off the top of the hill. With his left pushed back by Lannes, his right defeated by Davout and now his center smashed, Rosenberg began to retreat up the Eckmuehl-Ratisbon high~ay.~
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ABSTRACT MARSHAL LOUIS N. DAVOUT AN
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ?&%slsAPPROVALPAG
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CHAPTER 1 BUT WHAT ARE WE TO UNDERS
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the study of simple strategy and ta
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This fact becomes even more obvious
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the grand tactic. Operational warfa
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Burgundian countryside. He was born
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In1803 Davout was given command of
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then launch a major offensive into
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This attack'then ensured victory fo
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would actually go to war. However,
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Bluecher made four unsuccessful att
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fight entirely on his own. The batt
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title until two years after the bat
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Without hesitation Davout pushed fo
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most of his marshals, generals, the
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CHAPTER 3 THE AUSTRIANS ARE OUR WOR
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Finally, with Davout's information
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Austrian influence in Germany and I
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organization, always slow to act. M
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course of action. They now had a be
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elieved Prince Eugene and Marshal A
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22 March Davout had sent a message
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were designated VII Corps and consi
Page 51 and 52: and intelligence at the strategic l
Page 53 and 54: across the Danube. The Austrians al
Page 55 and 56: transmitted from Napoleon to Berthi
Page 57 and 58: Normally, the message dispatched by
Page 59 and 60: me that the best maneuver would be
Page 61 and 62: Berthier chose to overlook this cor
Page 63 and 64: Landshut were only one corps and no
Page 65 and 66: destroy him. On the eighteenth Char
Page 67 and 68: critical for the French. Napoleon r
Page 69 and 70: Throughout these ten days before th
Page 71 and 72: CHAPTER 5 YOU ONLY HAVE A CURTAIN O
Page 73 and 74: Gudin to support the movement of hi
Page 75 and 76: well. They bought Davout the necess
Page 77 and 78: The remainder of the Austrians then
Page 79 and 80: His tactical leadership was at its
Page 81 and 82: Napoleon's vision of the battlefiel
Page 83 and 84: against the French. His troops succ
Page 85 and 86: to surrender at 5:00 P.M. Now Charl
Page 87 and 88: pursuit on two parallel roads leadi
Page 89 and 90: important part in Davout's decision
Page 91 and 92: orders and directions. While Davout
Page 93 and 94: Corps. He received no reply from th
Page 95 and 96: convinced he was being attacked by
Page 97 and 98: CHAPTER 6 THE DUKE OF AUERSTAEDT IS
Page 99 and 100: eginning to feel the fatigue of con
Page 101: Just as the Austrians began to move
Page 105 and 106: The French carabiniers fired a volZ
Page 107 and 108: Charles would lose his desire to st
Page 109 and 110: The ~re'nch prevailed over the Aust
Page 111 and 112: CHAPTER 7 IN BATTLE MEN ARE NOTHING
Page 113 and 114: counter orders did nothing but conf
Page 115 and 116: doctrine, and most importantly the
Page 117 and 118: The art of war on land is an art of
Page 119 and 120: Maintaining this vision or coup d'o
Page 121 and 122: internal fears rather than obstinac
Page 123 and 124: who never made a mistake. The key i
Page 125 and 126: too seemed only to be small diversi
Page 127 and 128: helped to provide definition to the
Page 129 and 130: Figure 1.Theater of Operations.
Page 131 and 132: INITIALACTIONSABOUT 1500Counteratta
Page 133 and 134: Figure 5.Davout's Running Fight on
Page 135 and 136: N1- 'LABER RIVER' SCHlERLlNGLANNESI
Page 137 and 138: Reserve Division: Demont' (3,215) 2
Page 139 and 140: APPENDIX C ORDER OF BATTLE CHANGES
Page 141 and 142: ll~avidG. Chandler, The Cam~aians o
Page 143 and 144: 3~hisis noted in Napoleon's corresp
Page 145 and 146: 20~his is from correspondence numbe
Page 147 and 148: WORKS CITED Primarv Sources Bonapar
Page 149 and 150: Arnold, James R. Crisis on The Danu
Page 151 and 152: ackground material and specifics on
Page 153 and 154:
secondary source but all informatio
Page 155 and 156:
INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST 1. , Comb
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STATEMENT A: Approved for public re
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