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Möckern – French Left

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Title
Möckern – French Left
Description
Napoleon had chosen Leipzig as his central position to defeat the widely separated Allied armies as they advanced to give battle. His first target was the Army of Bohemia advancing from the south. Early on the 16th, Napoleon had ordered …
Publisher
Date
1813-10-16
Scenario#
511
Scenario Description
Napoleon had chosen Leipzig as his central position to defeat the widely separated Allied armies as they advanced to give battle. His first target was the Army of Bohemia advancing from the south. Early on the 16th, Napoleon had ordered Marmont’s Corps to join him at Wachau to provide the needed numerical superiority. Later in the day, General Drouot’s grand battery had destroyed two Russian divisions, opening the gap for a crushing final attack, but Marmont’s corps had not arrived. The reason – Blücher, Napoleon’s implacable enemy, had advanced from the north more quickly than anticipated, and the arrival of Blücher’s advanced guard required Marmont to turn back to face the approaching Prussians and Russians. The French had drawn up between Möckern and Podelwitz, when Blücher decided to go on the offensive. Langeron’s Russians were ordered to move forward on Gross and Klein Wiederitzsch, while Yorck and the Prussians advanced on Möckern. Both commanders realized the strategic significance of Möckern, and the village changed hands a number of times through the day’s fighting. Several of Marmont’s regiments were formed from sailors and naval gunners. Able-bodied and well disciplined, they performed miracles holding off superior numbers of Prussians. With all Prussian reserves committed, Yorck ordered his cavalry to charge Möckern. The bold move swept away the remaining French in the village, but the exhausted Prussian cavalry was unable to pursue what was left of Marmont’s forces as they fell back to Gohlis. history would write that the lack of the Marmont’s troops at Wachau would deprive Napoleon of his only chance for a clear victory.
Location
Möckern, Germany
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Battle of Möckern was a series of heavy clashes between allied Prusso-Russian troops and Napoleonic French forces south of Möckern. It occurred on 5 April 1813. It ended in a French defeat and formed the successful prelude to the "Liberation War" against Napoleon.
Narrative Source
Combatants
French
Prussians
Additional Information
Sixth Coalition

Geolocation