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

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 During Napoleon's initial advance around one o'clock, Rosenberg had withdrawn his forces to the top of the Bettelberg.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.~