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

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~apsburgs to their knees. Key to this success was France's initial victories on the banks of the Danube in April 1809, victories made possible for the most part, by Davout's generalship and his art of command.
CHAPTER 7 IN BATTLE MEN ARE NOTHING ONE MAN IS EVERYTHING The title of this chapter, quoted from Na?oleon, illustrates the importance of the commander's actions during any campaign in the mind of the Emperor. In the case of the Abensberg-Eckmuehl campaign there can be little doubt as to Davout's contribution at all three levels of warfare. Initially Davout's strategic sense enabled him to predict the Austrian buildup and eventual attack on the tenth. As the operational commander he anticipated the'Austrian intentions and properly prepared and positioned his forces. As the tactical commander, Davout skillfully maneuvered his corps on the battlefield, defeating the ~ustrik in every encounter. Davout was aware of the necessity to continually monitor the actions of all potential enemies within his area of operations. He set up an intricate intelligence gathering system that enabled him to stay abreast of the current situation and'trends within this area. Once Davout assembled this information he developed his own vision of what he thought would unfold in Central Europe during the coming year. His analyses and predictions were critical to the French successes in 1809. Had Davout not 105
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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
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and intelligence at the strategic l
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across the Danube. The Austrians al
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transmitted from Napoleon to Berthi
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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 and 102: Just as the Austrians began to move
Page 103 and 104: effect, Davoutfs forces became the
Page 105 and 106: The French carabiniers fired a volZ
Page 107 and 108: Charles would lose his desire to st
Page 109: The ~re'nch prevailed over the Aust
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
Page 157: STATEMENT A: Approved for public re
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MARSHAL LOUIS N. DAVOUT AND THE ART OF COMMAND A ...

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