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

was the redoubtable Davout's timely arrival and success against the Russian left. The battle began with an artillery exchange. Then Napoleon ordered Soult to conduct a demonstration on the Russian right to draw their attention away from the left flank which was to become the main attack made by Davout. Unfortunately, Soult was aggressively attacked and failed to fully occupy the Russians attention. Next Augereau's Corps was ordered to advance and create another diversion to buy some more time. Friant's division arrived about this time and Davout immediately committed him to attack. This was followed by the arrival of Morand's division. As Friant pushed forward Davout sent Morand around his left to fill the gap between the right of Napoleon's battle line and Friant's Division. This then provided continuity to the French line and secured the right flank of the entire army. Davout's attack pushed forward despite the fact that Bennigsen had committed his entire reserve. During the attack on the Russian center Augereau's Corps strayed across the Russian front into their massed artillery battery. This decimated his unit and forced Napoleon to commit Murat1s cavalry to stabilize the situation in the center. Murat's gallant charge gained the French time for Davout to bring the remainder of his corps into the battle.