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

CHAPTER 6 THE DUKE OF AUERSTAEDT IS AT GRIPS WITH THE ENEMY Charles had taken Ratisbon and was determined to attack and destroy Davout at Eckmuehl on the twenty- second. As early as 2:30 P.M. on 21 April Davout sent Napoleon a re.port that he was developing the main attack around that village.' The Emperor, convinced that Charles would retreat along a line south of the Danube to cover Vienna, continued to ignore Davout. Napoleon was sure that Charlesr retreat would run through Landshut or Straubing. Again Davout was more aware of the current situation than Napoleon. Throughout the remainder of the twenty-first and the morning of the twenty-second Davout sent no less than three messages to Napoleon. Each message was more urgent than the previous one. Davout realized that he was facing Charles who had three times the forces Davout possessed. Also, Austrian reinforcements were now pouring through Ratisbon, making Charles' position even stronger. Davout realized that he could not possibly hold and defeat Charles the next morning. Though Davout never before hesitated to attack forces superior to his own, he was also a realist and knew when not to attack. The success 9 1