Jena–Early Morning

After defeating Ferdinand at Saalfeld, Lannes had continued his advance toward Jena. When he discovered what he believed to be the main Prussian army near Jena, he sent word to Napoleon. During the night of the 13th, Napoleon’s army closed …

1806-10-14

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After defeating Ferdinand at Saalfeld, Lannes had continued his advance toward Jena. When he discovered what he believed to be the main Prussian army near Jena, he sent word to Napoleon. During the night of the 13th, Napoleon’s army closed on Jena, and by dint of great exertion concentrated over 46,000 men and 72 guns on the plateau above Jena, with over 60,000 more close behind. Napoleon felt he was facing the entire main Prussian army, but was actually facing a 38,000 man rear guard with another 15,000 troops close by. Still, the battle would be hard fought because the French would be advancing out of a confined area to attack into the converging fire of a longer Prussian line. The battle opened with Lannes V Corps moving forward in the morning fog on Closewitz, but the advance drifted to the left and became engaged with Tauentzien’s command in and between the villages Closewitz and Lützeroda. The fighting was intense and when Tauentzien received word that Cospeda had been taken by Gazan’s French, he decided to fall back, yielding the ground Napoleon needed to fully deploy. Meanwhile Soult’s IV Corps had become engaged with Holzendorf’s Prussians in the Closewitz and Zwatzen Woods on the French right. However, around 10 a.m. the Prussian launched a strong counter-attack against both Lannes and Soult. Lannes was driven back to a line between the two villages and Soult retired back to Closewitz Woods, but the Prussians were soon withdrawing as fresh French troops, another of Soult’s divisions and Augereau’s VII Corps, bent back both Prussian flanks.

Jena, Germany

The twin battles of Jena and Auerstedt were fought on 14 October 1806 on the plateau west of the river Saale in today's Germany, between the forces of Napoleon I of France and Frederick William III of Prussia. The decisive defeat suffered by the Prussian Army subjugated the Kingdom of Prussia to the French Empire until the Sixth Coalition was formed in 1812.

Wikipedia: Battle of Jena–Auerstedt

French

Prussians

Fourth Coalition