Brienne

As the Allies advanced into France, Napoleon planned to attack and defeat each in turn. Napoleon targeted Blücher’s Army of Silesia first for several reasons. Blücher’s army was closest, and needed to be defeated before it could link up with …

1814-01-29

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As the Allies advanced into France, Napoleon planned to attack and defeat each in turn. Napoleon targeted Blücher’s Army of Silesia first for several reasons. Blücher’s army was closest, and needed to be defeated before it could link up with Schwarzenberg’s larger Army of Bohemia. Blücher was the most aggressive Allied commander. Putting him out of action by crippling his army could only benefit Napoleon. The Emperor’s initial plan was to attack Blücher at St. Dizier, but the weather warmed and the roads turned into mud, slowing his advance. This gave Blücher time to move to Brienne, where Napoleon had attended the military academy. Despite this setback, Napoleon decided on a frontal attack there, and Blücher could not refuse battle. His baggage train was still on the muddy road from Brienne, blocking is only route of retreat. The initial French attack, by Grouchy’s cavalry, went well, but by the time Napoleon arrived with the infantry, the French cavalry had been turned back. During the rest of the day and into the night, both sides committed troops to the fight. Napoleon, who led his raw conscripts into battle, was almost captured. Blücher was almost captured as well when sitting down to have dinner, thinking the battle was over. Both armies were exhausted around midnight. Blücher decided to pull his army back to join Schwarzenberg. In the end, both sides would claim victory.

Brienne-le-Château, France

The Battle of Brienne saw an Imperial French army led by Emperor Napoleon attack Prussian and Russian forces commanded by Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. After heavy fighting that went on into the night, the French seized the château, nearly capturing Blücher. However, the French were unable to dislodge the Russians from the town of Brienne-le-Château. Napoleon himself, making his first appearance on a battlefield in 1814, was also nearly captured. Very early the next morning, Blücher's troops quietly abandoned the town and retreated to the south, conceding the field to the French.

Wikipedia: Battle of Brienne

French

Russians

Sixth Coalition