Battle of Dresden

  

                                   Battle of Dresden, by Thomas Charles Naudet

Was it the battle of Dresden that set the stage for the apocalyptic clash at Leipzig where the supernatural beast made it's appearance? Did the clash of cannon over the two-day battle raise the monster from the depths? I won't know until I write the story, but I have my suspicions. In the meantime, here's some information about the battle of Dresden:

Fun Fact: The Battle of Dresden

August 1813. The summer armistice has ended. Austrian has joined Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Great Britain against France. The Army of Bohemia, consisting of 230,000 Russians and Austrians under the command of Prince Schwarzenberg, accompanied by the Tsar and the King of Prussia, advanced on the capital of Saxony, whose King was a firm supporter of Napoleon. Gouvion St. Cyr's XIV Corps was the only French force near Dresden. The Emperor rushed away from his pursuit of Blucher toward Dresden, followed by elements of the Imperial Guard, Vandamme's corps, Marmont, and Victor.

Informed that St. Cyr could not hold against the massive force while a flanking attack developed, Napoleon advanced to Dresden with the Guard Cavalry, Marmont, and Victor, leaving Vandamme to conduct the outflanking maneuver.  When the Allies learned of The Emperor's arrival, they had second thoughts about attacking, but their troops marched forward before their orders could be canceled. 

St. Cyr held his defensive line throughout the 26th, and  Napoleon's counterattack with the Guard in the later afternoon regained those positions which had been lost earlier in the day. During the night, Victor and Marmont arrived to increase the French force to 120,000 men. Schwarzenberg's strength increased to 270,000, but he had to siphon of troops to meet Vandamme's approach. 

On the 27th, Schwarzenberg massed his troops to smash the French center, while Napoleon planned to hold the center with only 50,000 while delivering attacks on the flanks.  At 6:a.m. he moved first, crushing the Allied right wing with Mortier's and Nansouty's attack on Wittgenstein. At the same time, Murat drove off the Allied left. Schwarzenberg, having lost 18,000 troops with but limited success against the French center, elected against fighting a third day.

                   By Friedrich Rudolf von Rothenburg - Schlachtenatlas, Public Domain 

 

If you want some more Napoleonic conflict with a touch of Egyptian magic, check out my story, "Seventh Hussar and Aide to the Mage."