Chateau-Thierry

After losing the battles of Chapaubert and Montmirail, the Allied forces were in full retreat towards Chateau-Thierry and the safety of the Marne River. Napoleon, seeking to deal a final blow to the Prussian army and end its participation in …

1814-02-12

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After losing the battles of Chapaubert and Montmirail, the Allied forces were in full retreat towards Chateau-Thierry and the safety of the Marne River. Napoleon, seeking to deal a final blow to the Prussian army and end its participation in the Sixth Coalition, was in close pursuit. Marshal Ney caught up and overwhelmed the Russian rear guard on the Allied left and quickly rejoined Napoleon for the attack against the Prussians, who were making a stand before the Marne at Chateau-Thierry. As the French deployed for the attack, Yorck’s main goal was to hold the line long enough to give the majority of his army the opportunity to cross the river to safety. French infantry went in, pinning the Prussian front lines. Napoleon enjoyed a rare superiority in cavalry, and being Guards, they ran roughshod over the Prussian cavalry opposing them. Disaster loomed for the Prussians as the French cavalry gained the plateau behind the Prussian lines. As the beaten Prussians streamed toward the Marne bridges, they made good their escape because a few valiant battalions went into square and sacrificed themselves against the French cavalry and well-placed artillery held off the French infantry. Napoleon had won the battle, but none would have escaped, had Macdonald moved more quickly, as ordered, to Chateau-Thierry.

Chateau-Thierry, France

The Battle of Château-Thierry saw the Imperial French army commanded by Emperor Napoleon attempt to destroy a Prussian corps led by Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg and an Imperial Russian corps under Fabian Wilhelm von Osten-Sacken. The two Allied corps managed to escape across the Marne River, but suffered considerably heavier losses than the pursuing French. This action occurred during the Six Days' Campaign, a series of victories that Napoleon won over Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher's Army of Silesia. Château-Thierry lies about 75 kilometres (47 mi) northeast of Paris.

Wikipedia: Battle of Château-Thierry (1814)

French

Prussians

Sixth Coalition