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

elieved Prince Eugene and Marshal August-Frederic Marmont could hold the Italian frontier while Prince Poniatowski could contain the threat in Poland. Napoleon would take personal command in the German theater. However, to avoid any pretense of war he would remain in Paris and Berthier would become the nominal commander-in-chief. Berthier would also stay in Strassbourg until the Austrian intentions became clear. Napoleon's goal was to avoid war or any indications that he was preparing for war. With most of the French army in Spain, Napoleon still desired peace. If peace was not possible he wanted to make sure that Austria appeared as the aggressor. If the French initiated the attack their treaty with Russia would no - longer be valid. Davout was to remain the commander on&.-4the front although subordinated to Berthier. Napoleon wasstill depending on the Russians to keep their promise.As late as.1 March, Napoleon wrote to Eugene "We are still on the best of terms with the Russian~.~~ He went on to say that "At the first attack of Austria he [Tsar Alexander] will start to come and meet me at the head of his troops."''Davout knew all too well that this was not true. His intelligence network in Russia suggested that there was no mobilization of Russian forces. Napoleon received this information but chose to ignore the warnings.This is another example of Davoutfs superbly developed sense. Not only had he identified the