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

important part in Davout's decision making process. on 21 April he made the correct decision. Davoutls actions again resound with moral courage and his refusal ever to admit defeat. His confidence in his units and himself was very high. This enabled him to make such decisions. Had he waited for the Austrians to move first, they most likely would have encircled Davout's forces. He knew the enemy, where he was, and accurately predicted what actions the enemy would take when he advanced against them. Davout also knew the capabilities of his own units and was confident that they could launch such an attack. He possessed the necessary moral courage and decisiveness to pull off such an attack. He also based his decision on the fact that Napoleon and the rest of the French army were heading off to the south and Landshut. If he remained passive Charles could have moved on Napoleon's rear and flank. Davout knew that he had to prevent this disaster from happening. Thus, in his mind the only recourse was to attack. Again Davout would be moving forward with his left flank exposed to the Austrians. As on the 19th Davout turned to Montbrun and his cavalry to cover this exposed flank. It was even more critical as Montbrun would be tactically isolated by the terrain and I11 Corps success depended a great deal on his actions.