Dresden

August 26-27, 1813

Strategic Context
After his disastrous Russian Campaign, Napoleon Bonaparte hastily scratches up a new army to face the newly assembled Sixth Coalition of Russia, Austria, Prussia, Britain, Sweden and others. The Allied strategy reflects their respectful fear of Napoleon himself; although they outnumber the French 1.5:1 overall and rising, they resolve to only give battle to his subordinates or if they have overwhelming superiority. The first two Allied defeats to Napoleon at Lutzen and Bautzen and the first two Allied victories against Marshals Oudinot and MacDonald at Grobeeren and Katzbach only emphasize the strategys potential to finally defeat Napoleon and reestablish Frances natural borders. So when the Allied Army of Bohemia discovers a French army half its size under Marshal Saint-Cyr at Dresden, it is believed that there is no better opportunity to defeat another one of Napoleons subordinates.

Stakes
+ A French victory would hand the initiative back to Napoleon and push the Allied Army of Bohemia south away from its supporting armies to the north and east. + An Allied victory would give the coalition confidence, deny the French a base to hinder Allied maneuvers in the theater and buy time for the already massive Allied armies to grow.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

Dresden, 1813
Strength
Grande Arme Napoleon Bonaparte Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr 120,000 Well

Allied Army of Bohemia

Karl Philipp Furst zu Schwarzenberg

170,000 Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

St-Cyr entrenches his force in the city of Dresden and plans to hold out until reinforcements arrive. He holds an outpost linewhich near the Allied to in hide The Allied soldiers are badly shaken by the failed offensive against the defences of can Dresden and so Bonaparte judges the time to lines be right for his his Schwarzenberg carries reconnaissance in force to be followed by aof full scale assault succeeds arrived. The Tsar of Russia feels the out Alliesa should at once, the Emperor of Austria is unsure and the King Prussia is aghast that such a superior force would retreat from true fortifications; they include five newly built retreat redoubts and artillery behind thethe Elbe RiverGarden to protect his vulnerable left flank, his right flank being more secure by counterattack. Mortier hits the Allied right and succeeds in recapturing Great while Neys attack on the Allied ce nter is so sudden that one man. Schwarzenberg is nonetheless instructed to postpone the city. attack but the command is received too late and the Allied attack goes ahead reluctantly. Elements of the pushing the French outpost line back to the However, the Allies must accept casualties from the French the cramped, marshy ground. Schwarzenberg deploys his massive force in an arc around Dresden; he plans to destroy the French army before its Schwarzenberg commit his reserve toto contain the damage. By nightfall, the in French regain most of forms the outpost line originally held. elite Imperial Guard must arrive with Bonaparte and serve bolster the ranks; Bonaparte leaves St-Cyr defensive command and a counterattack reserve. Encouraged by the reinforcements arrive. However, the from Allies are hampered bythe a the diverse warholds council which decisions must pass through first before any action can be taken. artillery and overcome fierce resistance to take Great Garden before French retreat in good order. mere presence ofcan their emperor and fighting elaborate defences, French line in all sectors despite the the center redoubt being taken.

Just as Schwarzenberg is ready to launch his full scale assault, he and his men hear the dreaded cries of Vive lempereur! resonating from Dresden. Napoleon Bonaparte has

Grande Arme (Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr) 120,000

Dresden
Murat Mortier

Grande Arme (St-Cyr)

Landmarks

Ney

Wittgenstein

Great Garden

Kleist Bianchi

Plauen

Racknitz Leubnitz

Chasteler

Colloredo

Allied Army of Bohemia (Schwarzenberg)

Allied Army of Bohemia (Karl Philipp Furst zu Schwarzenberg) 170,000

Overnight, 50,000 French reinforcements arrive while only 20,000 Allied reinforcements arrive dueBonaparte to a developing crisis tovictory the east. assumes command from St-Cyr Bonaparte fully expects athe third day of fighting and makes preparations to survive and win apersonally decisive Bonaparte but he is notmore given the opportunity. Bonaparte orders two first; more assaults to take Leubnitz which both fail after heavy fighting. supervises a third with concentrated Bonaparte strikes French left quickly drives the Allies right backwards before being checked at Leubnitz. The French right and deploys 35,000 troops on each flank with 50,000 holding the center; he plans to envelop the Allied army by overrunning its f lanks and holding Dresdens defences and the artillery fire but this is also repelled. Somewhat annoyed by this, Bonaparte begins back to his command post but spots an Allied staff group visibly situated on a An Allied council of war, made up of national leaders spooked by the phantom cannonball and discouraged by the past two days events and also drives its opposition backwards also seizes bridge at Plauen, severing the Allied left the Allied center. The Allies quickly attention in the center. Schwarzenberg deploys only but 25,000 troops on histhe flanks with the bulk of his force, 120,000, in the center; hefrom plans to shatter Dresdens defences hill. He nonchalantly orders the to nearest artillery batteryretreat to fire a shot which scatters them.holding This staff group turns out to be the Allies highest leadership and the Bonapartes presence, opts retreat. The Allies during the night despite numerical superiority and a right flank anchor in Leubnitz with overwhelming numbers and divide thewatch French army. Overnight, it Latouralso rainsMauborg heavily, flooding lower ground to the west of Dresden, leaving only the bridge at Plauen as a Allied center can do nothing but as Victor and kill, the scatter or capture Bianchis entire force. shot narrowly misses Tsar of Russia. assault on Leubnitz fails as night falls. that thecrossing French could not take during Yet fouranother full scale assaults. possible of the the Weisseritz River.

Grande Arme (Napoleon Bonaparte) 120,000

Latour-Mauborg

Grande Arme (Bonaparte)

Landmarks

Nansouty

Dresden

Mortier

Victor Ney Marmont St-Cyr St-Cyr Ney

Great Garden
Bianchi Wittgenstein Mortier

Plauen

Racknitz

Leubnitz

Nansouty

Miloradovich

Kleist

Wittgenstein

Allied Army of Bohemia (Schwarzenberg)

Allied Army of Bohemia (Karl Philipp Furst zu Schwarzenberg) 170,000

Dresden, 1813
Casualties & Aftermath
Grande Arme: Allied Army of Bohemia:

10,000 or 8%

38,000 or 22%

The French victory was wasted by the careless pursuit of the Allies by Marshal Vandamme. Vanadammes 32,000 men had been pushing west to hit the Allied Army of Bohemias right flank throughout the battle and pursued it when it retreated, ending the battle. On August 29-30 at the Battle of Kulm, Vandamme and much of his force surrendered to 54,000 Allied soldiers. The French soldiers lost in this unnecessary disaster were sorely missed at the decisive Battle of Leipzig in October of the same year.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

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By Jonathan Webb, 2009