'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 13, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE NAPOLEONIC WARS group.

"October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806" - A summary of the Battles of Jena-Auerstädt:

"It is impossible to state precisely Hohenlohe's losses at Jena because so many soldiers abandoned their colors during the retreat. The Saxon forces disbanded after the battle. The German historian Eduard von Hopfner asserts that 30 Prussian and 19 Saxon officers were killed or mortally wounded while another 168 Prussian and 95 Saxon officers were wounded. Twenty-four Prussian guns were lost, a figure that does not include regimental cannon. Something like 10,000 Germans were killed or wounded at Jena and another 15,000 captured during the immediate, post-battle pursuit.

Losses for both sides at Auerstädt were higher. On the French side, Morand's division recorded 98 officers and 2,181 men killed or wounded. Friant's division suffered far less with 20 officers and 900 men killed or wounded. Gudin's division endured terrible losses; 134 officers and 3,500 men killed or wounded for a total casualty rate of 43 percent. Vialanne's cavalry brigade had 4 officers and 55 men killed, 15 officers and 159 men wounded. Overall, one in four men in the III Corps was killed, wounded, or missing, for a total of 7,000. Among them was Colonel Bourke, whose pistol shot had announced the beginning of the battle. Bourke subsequently endured an incapacitating wound.

The Battle of Auerstädt cost the Prussians 47 officers killed or mortally wounded: 1 field marshal (Brunswick), 3 generals (GL Schmettau, GM Quitzow and GM Greiffenberg), 7 staff officers, and 36 other officers. The wounded included 1 field marshal, 5 generals, 34 staff officers and 181 other officers, for a total of 221 officers. The field artillery lost 57 guns. In total, the Prussian Main Army lost 10,000 killed or wounded and 3,000 captured, along with 115 guns (including battalion guns). Overall, during the combined battles and initial pursuit, the French seized 60 regimental standards and a staggering 200 artillery pieces."

Battle of Auerstädt:
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/...

The Prussian Army at Auerstadt: 14 October 1806:
https://www.napoleon-series.org/milit...

Betsy wrote: "I must say I was expecting more detailed coverage of the Prussian battles. Perhaps because of the losing nature of so many, the author gives little on the battles up until 1813 when Blucher begins ..."

Not much to be proud of until 1813 I suppose Betsy. Are you still enjoying the book in spite of those negative points you mentioned?

"October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806" - The Prussian's are starting to falter at Jena:

"Sanitz's Regiment reacted to Gazan's pressure first. It began to retire. Ensign Eberhard, a mere boy and the youngest officer in the regiment, grabbed the flag out of the standard-bearer's hand and shouted to the soldiers: 'Look at me, here is your flag and you must follow it!' The brave boy fell, pierced by multiple shots, still clutching his banner. Exerting themselves to the full, officers managed to return the regiment to its position only to see it quickly break again. The disordered regiment swarmed around Winkel's Grenadier Battalion (Cerrini's command). At this moment, the sun broke through the fog. Lieutenant Colonel Winkel exhorted his unit to hold fast: 'The French must see where the Saxon grenadiers stand!' In response, his grenadiers did not flinch. Kotsch's howitzer battery, which had spent its time in reserve replenishing ammunition, returned and unlimbered in the front line near the Saxon grenadiers. Hohenlohe and his staff rode into the midst of the disordered troops and used the flats of their swords to beat the soldiers in an effort to stop them from running. Knots of soldiers rallied behind the howitzers. Then, French drummers beat the pas de charge and Saint-Hilaire's division advanced against the Prussian flank. This was the signal for the entire French battle line to attack, led by a long line of skirmishers."

Battle of Jena:
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/napo...

https://www.frenchempire.net/battles/...

I agree with you about willing Prussians rather than unwilling allies, bit like Napoleon's army that invaded Russia, but I suppose the Prussians need every man they could find.

Betsy wrote: "That's one tough hombre, and rightly so, but would such a gesture have helped win the battle?"

You never know what such examples could do to change the course of a battle but in this case I think it wouldn't have made any difference, but it would have pleased the Prussian gunners a tad :)

"October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806" - The main battle has commenced at Jena between Napoleon and the Prussian forces under GL Friedrich von Holtzendorf:

"Defending Holtzendorf's left flank were eight squadrons of Saxon cavalry and a half-battery of Captain Hahn's horse artillery. The Prince Johann Chevaulegers refused to charge and started to withdraw. In a fine display of allied cooperation, Hahn told the Saxon commander that if he retreated, Hahn would fire canister into the Saxon ranks and follow the Saxons for as long as he could continue to shoot them down!"

October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806 by James R. Arnold

"October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806" - Some irregular soldiers of Napoleon's army on campaign in Prussia:

" ... They were soon joined by a collection of soldiers known in army slang as the 'fricoteurs.' They were 'a class of soldiers who, wanting to evade the discipline of the army lived in freedom while following its march.' The fricoteurs gathered in groups of fifty to sixty men. Like regular soldiers, they carried their weapons and belongings, stopping to bivouac at the same time as the organized units. They enjoyed a much more luxurious life, 'equipped with cooking utensils and always stocked with food.' Whereas every army has its malingerers, the fricoteurs did not shirk combat. Rather, 'when they heard the cannon, they would come to the point where there was fighting, to place themselves in the ranks of the first regiment they found, and at the end of the action they would come together to resume their way of life.' Senior French officers up to and including the emperor, deplored this practice. But, in 1806 and on into 1807, the army moved so fast that there was not time to rein in the fricoteurs."

October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806 by James R. Arnold

Thanks Scott, the final sentence seems to be quite a fair assessment: "In so far as he appeared to be lacking in enterprise, the explanation is that he knew his wily adversary and the nature of his own danger far better than could any of his critics."

I found this book on Bernadotte to be quite positive to the subject:

The Amazing Career of Bernadotte 1763 to 1844 by Dunbar Plunket Barton

This is an abridged volume of the author's three (3) book series on Marshal Bernadotte which I have been considering acquiring now for some time.

Another decent book on the subject is:

Bernadotte: Napoleon's Marshal, Sweden's King by Alan Warwick Palmer

It has also been surmised that he did not wish to spill the blood of too many Frenchmen during the campaign.

Bernadotte's actions are indeed hard to fathom during that campaign. Some say that he was trying to protect the lives of his soldiers to protect his newly gained crown.

Betsy, glad you joined in :) Hopefully not too long, I hate waiting for a series to be complete and published :)

"October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806" - The death of Prince Louis of Prussia during the fighting at Saalfeld:

“Realising that he could do nothing more, Prince Louis rode north along the river’s left bank. He was a strong, athletic man, but his horse became entangled while jumping a hedge. The brief delay allowed Sergeant Jean-Baptistery Guindet of the 10th Hussars to attack the prince. The 21-year-old Guindet was a formidable foe. Antoine Lascalle, who commanded the regiment when Guindet enlisted, described him as ‘a brilliant rider and a superb swordsman.’ A celebrated saber duel ensued. The prince twice sliced Guindet in the face. In turn, the sergeant caught Louis six times. The penultimate strike landed at the base of Louis’s skull. Momentarily paralyzed, Louis could not react to a killing thrust into his chest. Guindet dismounted to collect Louis’s weapons and decorations. Later he would present the trophies to Lannes, who forwarded them to Napoleon.

From a Prussian perspective, the entire affair, from the beginning of the French advance to Louis’s death, transpired with bewildering speed.”

The author also offered this assessment of Prince Louis:

“Napoleon knew a few things about the Prussian prince. He was a talented nephew of Frederick the Great, a warrior as well as a gifted musician and composer. A French officer, Marcellin de Marbot, had encountered Louis during the last days of peace while on a mission to Berlin. As Marbot informed Napoleon, the prince had keenly questioned him about his experiences at the siege of Genoa and the battles of Marengo and Austerlitz, and about the organization of the Grande Armee. Marbot concluded, ‘This prince was a splendid man, and, in respect to mental gifts and character, was the only member of the royal family who bore any resemblance to the great Frederick’.”

October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806 by James R. Arnold

The French and Prussians meet at Saalfeld, October 10, 1806:

"One of the prime instigators of the war with France, Prussian Prince Louis Ferdinand and his 8300 men had been ordered to block the advance of the French at Saalfeld. Marshal Lannes and his V Corps came into contact with the Prussians there on the 10th, and despite being ordered by Napoleon to not engage without Augereau's VII Corps support, Lannes immediately attacked. Lannes and General Suchet had noticed the Prussians had their back to the river, and estimated the Prussian forces to only be about half the size of V Corps. It was too good of an opportunity to wait.

Lannes attacked frontally while sending Suchet's division to turn the enemy's flank on his left. The superior numbers of the French quickly began pushing the Prussians back. Eventually Louis Ferdinand realized his flank was being crushed, but it was too late to withdraw in good order. As the Prussians struggled to rally and retreat, Lannes sent in his cavalry for the killing blow. In a last attempt to salvage the situation, Louis Ferdinand personally charged into the fray to rally his soldiers. Quartermaster Guindet of the 10th Hussars entered into personal combat with Prince Louis, and offered to spare his life if he surrendered. The Prussian prince refused, and within moments he was slain.

The battle was a disaster for the Prussians, losing one of their best commanders and suffering 900 killed. The French managed to take 1800 prisoners and 33 guns, while they lost less than 200 soldiers. The morale of the Prussian army was seriously shaken, and Saalfeld was only the beginning of their problems, as within a few days they would face the French at the twin battles of Jena and Auerstädt." - www.frenchempire.net

The Battle of Saalfeld:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...

Talking of Scharnhorst I figured no Napoleonic library could be complete without a book on him so I ordered a copy of the first book of projected two book set:

Scharnhorst: The Formative Years, 1755-1801 by Charles Edward White

Scott wrote: "I like this missive extract from Napoleon to ‘his son’ Eugène de Beauharnais advising on how to exercise command over his troops and on the finer points of discipline.

‘My Son,

Yesterday’s would..."

I really loved the ending of the letter:

"Shoot a few of them.

Your affectionate father"

"October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806" - From the chapter on the French Military Machine:

"The thirty dragoon regiments occupied a middle position between the heavy and light cavalry. In spite of their handsome uniform - long green coats and copper helmets with a flowing horsehair plume - the dragoons were the least prestigious of the mounted regiments. This partially stemmed from their hybrid role. They carried long swords for mounted combat and dragoon muskets for dismounted action. As a veteran dragoon observed, it was hard to know what to think when instructors taught that nothing could resist an all-out mounted charge and then taught them to dismount and wield the muskets since nothing could break a stout line of infantry."

French Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars:
http://www.napolun.com/mirror/napoleo...

Betsy wrote: "Austria, hoping to take advantage of Napoleon's interference in Spain, was the next opponent. Hubris once again seemed to blind that country to the follies of war for which they paid dearly. As par..."

Those Austrians! Imagine comparing Napoleon to Satan! :)

"October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806" - From the chapter on the French Military Machine:

"The light cavalry troopers united in their belief that they were a cut above the plodding heavies and acted accordingly both on and off the battlefield. Drinking, gambling, and wrenching characterized their off-duty behavior. On active service, the light cavalry formed the advance guard where they were supposed to provide reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance duties. Light cavalry patrols, moving fast into enemy territory, went first to town post offices to seize the mail. Captured mail was the Napoleonic version of modern radio intelligence. On the battlefield, the light cavalry engaged in shock action when called upon. After the battle, they typically led the pursuit, and were first to begin looting the civilian population."

October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806 by James R. Arnold

It sometimes takes me awhile to get into the period mindset when reading some of the older publications but generally once I do I quite enjoy some of the early Napoleonic titles. I think I mentioned I quite enjoyed the books of F. Loraine Petre.

"October Triumph: Napoleon’s Invasion of Germany, 1806" - One of the chapter headings has this quote from Napoleon:

“Tactics can be learned from treatises ... and so can the various military evolutions of the science of the engineer and the gunner; but knowledge of the grand principles of warfare and be acquired only through the study of military history and of the battles of the great captains and through experience. There are no precise, determinate rules: everything depends of the character that nature has bestowed on the general, on his qualities and defects, on the nature of the troops, on the range of the weapons, on the season of the year, and on a thousand circumstances which are never twice the same.”