The Franco-American War of 1866 - an Alternative History of Napoleon III's Mexican Adventure

Background

On 17 July 1861, Mexican President Benito Juárez suspended interest payments to foreign countries, angering Britain, France and Spain, Mexico’s three major creditors. Emperor Napoleon III of France saw an opportunity here. He wanted access to Latin American markets, but equally importantly he wanted Mexican silver to finance his empire. Under the guise of a broad foreign policy of commitment to free trade Napoleon built a coalition with Spain and Britain for military intervention while the United States was distracted by its civil war. The three European powers signed the Treaty of London on 31 October 1861 to unite their efforts to receive payments from Mexico.

The British, Spanish and French fleets arrived at Veracruz in December 1861 intending to pressure the Mexicans into settling their debts and the Spanish took control of Veracruz on the 17th.

The European forces advanced inland to Cordoba and Tehuacán. The following February the French fleet forced the surrender of the city of Campeche and a French army, commanded by General Lorencez, arrived in March. However, when it became clear that the French were intent on the conquest of Mexico, the British and Spanish quickly withdrew from the coalition, embarking their troops on 24 April.

The Mexican army scored an early victory against the French at the Battle of Puebla in May 1862, but the pursuing Mexican army was contained by the French at Orizaba on 14 June. Additional French troops arrived in September, and General Bazaine arrived with a significant contingent a month later. The French occupied the port of Tampico in October, and unopposed by Mexican forces took control of Xalapa in December. The French bombarded Veracruz on 15 January 1863. Two months later French Army began the siege of Puebla.

Bazaine defeated the Mexican army attempting to relieve the siege of Puebla, at San Lorenzo and Puebla surrendered to the French shortly afterward. On 31 May Juárez fled Mexico City with his cabinet retreating northward to Paso del Norte and later to Chihuahua. Having taken the treasure of the state with them, he set up a government-in-exile there.

Bazaine entered Mexico City on 7 June 1863. General Almonte was appointed the provisional President of Mexico on 16 June, by the Superior Junta. The 35 members of the Superior Junta met on 21 June, and proclaimed a Catholic Empire on 10 July. The crown was offered to and accepted by Maximilian of Austria following pressure from Napoleon.

Bazaine occupied Guadalajara in January 1864, and troops under Douay occupied Zacatecas in February. Further decisive French victories continued with the fall of Acapulco in the southwest in June, occupation of Durango in July, and the defeat of republicans in the states of Sinaloa and Jalisco in November.

Maximilian landed at Veracruz on 28 May 1864. He was enthroned as Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, with his wife Charlotte of Belgium, who had taken the name Carlota. In reality, he was a puppet monarch of the French Second Empire.

Maximilian expressed progressive European political ideas, favouring the establishment of a limited monarchy sharing powers with a democratically elected congress. He proposed to abolish child labour, limit working hours, and abolished a system of land tenancy that virtually amounted to serfdom among the Indians. However, he found few enthusiastic allies within Mexico for his policies were too liberal for Mexico's conservatives, and the liberals refused to accept a monarch.

In November 1864, three French men-of-war (Victoire, D'Assas and Diamante) shelled the West Coast city of Mazatlán, and Imperial Mexican forces under Manuel Lozada entered and captured the city.

The French continued with victories in 1865, with Bazaine capturing Oaxaca in February. The French fleet landed soldiers who captured Guaymas in March. But on 11 April, Republicans defeated Imperial forces at Tacámbaro in Michoacán. In April and May the Republicans had significant forces in the states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua. Most towns along the Rio Grande were also occupied by Republicans. The Belgian volunteers were defeated by the Republicans at the Second Battle of Tacámbaro on 11 July.

United States objections to European involvement had been raised as early as December 1860 and Lincoln expressed his sympathy to Latin American republics against any European attempt to establish a monarchy. But not until after the establishment of the Imperial government in April 1864, did the US declare that while maintaining neutrality it was uncomfortable with establishment of a monarchy in Mexico.

The end of the Civil War changed the strategic situation in Mexico. Almost the moment the last Confederate troops surrendered the United States rushed three Army Corps, some fifty thousand men, under General Philip Sheridan, to Texas. This Army of Observation was considered more than adequate to deal with any French force that was likely to approach within striking distance of the Rio Grande.

The US gave unofficial support to the Juarez government by permitting Mexican agents in the United States to sell bonds that raised $16-$18-million for the purchase of American war material. Sheridan was charged with transferring supplies and weapons to the Liberal army, including some 30,000 rifles directly from the Baton Rouge Arsenal in Louisiana and then “left in the desert” for the Juarez forces to “find”.

As a result of the US stance Bazaine went over to a defensive posture in the autumn of 1865. Although the US was rapidly demobilising its army in the wake of the Civil War, he could not discount the possibility of an open American intervention. He also pulled the French troops back from the Rio Grande so as not to give Sheridan an excuse for an incursion.

As the Mexican conflict dragged on into 1866, tensions between the US and France began to grow and the US Congress placed an embargo on arms being supplied to Maximillian’s army, but deliberately fell short of placing that embargo on supplies to French troops.

The Mexican Expedition was proving to be an expensive operation and extremely unpopular for Napoleon. It was a public relations disaster. Unwilling to risk an all-out war with the US and to try to ease tensions at home Napoleon began to take steps to disengage from Mexico and distance himself from Maximillian.

The Magellan Affair and the Battle of Tampico

In February 1866, as Napoleon was preparing to withdraw his forces a French naval vessel, the Magellan, was en-route to Tampico with supplies for the French garrison there, when it was intercepted by the USS Lancaster and ordered to hove to. When the French ship refused, the Lancaster fired what was intended as a shot across the bow of the Magellan, but the shot struck the French ship and the French fired back.

In the exchange the Lancaster was damaged, but a fluke shot struck the Magellan’s magazine and it exploded. 

A total of 130 French sailors were lost and another 50 fished from the water and taken to Texas as prisoners.

News that a French warship had been attacked and sunk in international waters brought a public outrage in France. Britain also protested the American action, but anxious to remain neutral offered to mediate. When it became common knowledge that the US was supplying arms to the Juarez armies, further international concern was raised.

When the French Legislature was convened a week later the conservative elements whipped it into a howling rage. They demanded an immediate apology, the return of the prisoners and reparations. The US returned the prisoners, but was unwilling to back down and relations took another step backward. Napoleon’s unpopular war suddenly gained support from the populace. Ten infantry regiments, 22,000 troops in all, were ordered to Mexico and a further ten infantry regiments, six cavalry regiments and twenty field batteries were put on standby. The navy was ordered to form a flotilla and put to sea.

The French blue water navy at the time counted some 240 fighting ships, mounting 7432 guns. From this force a 42 ship flotilla was formed with eight of the twelve ocean going ironclads (including the three largest vessels Gloire, Magenta and Solferino), three 3-decker steam ships of the line, ten 2-decker steam ships, fifteen frigates and six corvettes. The flotilla set sail on February 27 and arrived off Guadeloupe on March 20, where it re-coaled before sailing for the Gulf of Mexico, basing itself at Tampico and Veracruz.

In the meantime the US bolstered its naval force in the area, sending its only ocean going ironclad, USS Dunderberg (that had been hurriedly inducted into service), the steam frigates Franklin and Wabash, corvettes Hartford and Pensacola and the sloops Kearsage and Wachusett and a force of 10 smaller gun boats to the gulf, based at Galveston under Admiral Porter. The flotilla could mount 178 guns.

Tensions in the Gulf were extreme and the two rival navies sailed within sight of each other daily. When the French troop ships arrived in the Gulf at the end of March, the French navy became particularly active. On 2 April, the French Tampico squadron, including the ironclads Magenta, Solferino and Gloire, encountered the US squadron intent on turning back a significant convoy heading for Tampico. When the French refused to turn back the American ships were called to battle stations. An hour of bluster followed, neither side willing start an action. In an attempt to diffuse the situation the French commander instructed the convoy to make for Veracruz, but Porter insisted that the convoy turn away from the Mexican coast and the French commander warned the Americans to stand down. When USS Franklin suddenly turned in front of the convoy in an attempt to force the issue Gloire, leading the convoy, was unable to turn in time and struck the Franklin mid-ships, her ram biting deep into Franklin's wooden hull. Franklin was seriously damaged and immediately turned away, but was taking on water so badly that her captain ordered the ship be abandoned.  

Within a matter of minutes of the last crew member leaving the vessel, she sank.

The other American ships attempted to engage the French, but they were seriously out gunned – the French squadron mounted 480 guns while the Americans mounted only 178 (and 42 of those went down with the Franklin). A furious action erupted and in less than an hour the American squadron was badly mauled. Four of the gunboats were sunk, two disabled and had to be taken under tow while Wabash, Pensacola, Kearsage and Wachusett took heavy damage and lost a significant number of their crew. Only Hartford and Dunderberg escaped serious damage in the initial exchange. The French loss was limited to light damage to three of the wooden ships.

Porter attempted to break off the engagement and make for Brownsville, but Dunderberg was a lumbering vessel, with a top speed of 8 knots and the French ironclads with speeds of 12 and 13 knots hounded her relentlessly. The Dunderberg, with her 16 guns, struggled against the combined 118 guns of the three French vessels, but her armour held until Magenta rammed her, tearing a gaping hole. 

Unable to continue the fight Dunderberg struck her colours and evacuated her crew. Shortly afterwards she sank. The rest of the American squadron limped back to Brownsville. It was a humiliating defeat for the American Navy with the loss of six ships, six more badly damaged, 76 crew killed and 193 wounded.

The Second Mexican War

Reaction to the naval defeat was furious. Congress was desperate for a scapegoat and Porter was their first target. Despite his Civil War record he was removed from command a replaced by Admiral David Farragut.  Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wells resigned his post on 6 April.

The Johnson administration found itself in a difficult position. The USA was in no position to go to war. The Civil War had left the treasury bare. There was serious concern about the ability to finance another war. Compounding the issue the President Andrew Johnson was an a perilous position. There was objection to his reconstruction plan, he was in open conflict with his own party and the mid-term elections were looming.

Worse still was the fact that the military was in a weakened state. Most of the Civil War troops had been mustered out (including much of Sheridan’s command that had now dwindled to 35,000 men).  The regular army was spread across the whole country and a significant portion was involved in the occupation of the former Confederacy and most of the volunteer regiments remaining had signed up for the duration of the Civil War making the legality of retaining them in service dubious. The suggestion of a call for volunteers was met with resistance in cabinet with many believing that since less than a year had passed since the end of the war and in a country weary of war the response would be poor. 

The Administration protested formally, ordered the French ambassador to leave Washington and recalled its ambassador from Paris, but stopped short of declaring war. However, the nation’s press clamoured for revenge and something had to be done. Sheridan was instructed to concentrate along the Rio Grande, while Farragut’s fleet was expanded by another 30 ships.

The escalation of hostilities brought a further expansion to the French commitment with naval and army reinforcements being sent the Gulf. Half the navy, nearly 120 warships, was committed along with a field force of 36 line infantry regiments, 8 battalions of chasseurs, 20 cavalry regiments and 30 batteries. More than 100,000 troops and 180 guns, almost one third of the army, were in Mexico by the second week of May.

The French moved north of Tampico, establishing operational bases at Monterrey, with a corps of 30,000 troops, and at San Fernando, with a force of 50,000 men in two corps. An observation force of one corps, totalling 20,000 men was established along the Rio Grande. The navy patrolled the coast as far north as the Rio Grande estuary. Maximilian's Imperial forces guarded the East and South of the country.

On 22 May the Mexican Republican armies attacked the French near Monterrey. The Mexicans were heavily defeated and largely dispersed. What remained of the Juarez army retreated back into northern Mexico and it would be some time before they would be in a position to be a serious threat. Sheridan quickly realised that his command was quite inadequate to deal with the French threat and he called for reinforcements. As the call went out for volunteers the tensions along the Rio Grande became intense. On 25 May French and American patrols exchanged fire, although no casualties were reported. The increase in tension caused both armies to close up on the border. Sheridan, struggling to supply his units inland, closed up on Brownsville. Bazaine, content that the Republican threat was removed, left a force of 15,000 troops at Monterrey and some 10,000 opposite Brownsville, while the main force of 70,000 troops concentrated east of Reynosa, where good roads meant that they could be more readily supplied.

For the next three days there was calm. Neither side was prepared to start anything. However, some of the more radical elements within the Mexican Republicans feared that this calm could lead to an easing of tensions and sought to mix things up. They reasoned that the US was unlikely to start anything, but believed they could push the French to do so. Operating without the sanction of the Juarez government, a small force of Mexicans crossed to the US side, twenty miles east of Reynosa, and in the early hours of 28 May opened fire on French patrols on the opposite bank, killing three French infantry and wounding six more. The Mexicans quickly dispersed when an American patrol appeared on the scene to investigate the source of the firing. The French, believing that the Americans had fired on them opened on them with infantry and artillery fire, killing six and wounding 43 Americans. Things quickly began to escalate. By mid-day two French divisions, with artillery and cavalry support had closed up on the southern bank and prepared to cross.

With things spiralling out of control, Sheridan arrived on the scene shortly after this incident with a US brigade, perhaps 3,000 men, and made preparations to resist a crossing. He soon realised the folly when he saw that the river was particularly low and easily crossed at a dozen points. He ordered his command to fall back twelve miles and take a position on the only piece of high ground for some distance, sending urgent instructions for another four brigades to come forward.

By 2:30 in the afternoon the entire French force was across the river, on American soil, and deployed facing Sheridan. In total the French could count 16,000 infantry, 2400 cavalry and 36 guns. A similar force stood south of the river

All the American commander could hope to do was to delay the French until his reinforcements arrived. The position he held was barren with few natural obstacles apart from a shallow gully to the west and the short, low ridge on which he had his infantry form. His force consisted of six infantry regiments totaling 2,500 men, a single cavalry regiment of 500 men and a battery of 6 guns. At best he could hope for another 6,000 infantry and 12 guns to arrive before nightfall, and possibly another 6,000 infantry and 12 guns by morning. When it all came together he would have 14,500 infantry, 500 cavalry and 30 guns available the next day.

The French, however did not intend to wait until the next day and prepared to advance. With a brigade of cavalry formed on each flank the French infantry deployed in two divisional columns, the first on the left and the second on the right. The artillery opened at exactly 3:15 and swept the American position with fire for half an hour. The Second Division moved off first but struggled to make headway against the well positioned American line. But when the First Division entered the fray, the situation swung in the French favour. A regiment of Zouaves swept forward at an alarming speed, overwhelming the American right, which fell back in disorder.

The American left held out against superior numbers, but with their flank under threat, began a  retreat.

The US cavalry, despite some initial success was quickly overwhelmed and driven from the field.

For a moment it looked as though the US force would be destroyed. Then two American brigades arrived from Brownsville and deployed beyond a gully, allowing the routing American troops of the advanced guard to rally.

The French paused and unable to determine the true strength of the American force assumed that they were outnumbered. The fighting spluttered out and night fell with the Americans falling back another thirteen miles closer to their base.

During the night Sheridan ordered that Brownsville be defended by a mere 1000 men and called  the remain 17,500 of the garrison to march to him. After a gruelling forced march he had 32,000 men and 40 guns on the field a little before 5:00 am. The French appeared before the American line a little after 6:00 AM and the troops were formed across a gentle ridge.

The French also been reinforced. Bazaine arrived at around midnight with another 50,000 infantry, 2500 cavalry and 60 guns. This gave him some 65,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry and 96 guns facing the Americans. He determined to drive the American force from its position by turning their left, driving it away from Brownsville. His army was formed in three infantry and one cavalry corps. He assigned one corps, a division of cavalry and half of the artillery the task of feigning against the enemy right, while the remainder of the army was to shift right an overlap the American left.

At 8:00 a grand battery of 60 guns opened on the American line while the infantry formed as though to attack. 

Unaware of Bazaine's arrival and working in the belief that he now outnumbered the French, Sheridan was shocked when the French bombardment was unleashed. The sheer weight of fire forced him to pull his batteries out of the line to try to conserve them for the infantry attack that must follow, but not before two of his batteries were badly damaged.

The French feint worked and Sheridan committed half his force to that front so that when Bazaine struck with two corps, with three battalions of Tirailleurs Algériens leading the way, the US left collapsed. 

Sheridan managed to recall some of the troops on the right to prevent a total collapse of the line and a counterattack by a single brigade of US troops stopped the French attack dead, but at a fearful cost – of the 3000 men in the brigade, 2000 were casualties.

Bazaine then turned his feint into an attack. 

The cavalry division in the meantime moved far to the right, overlapping the American line there by a mile, opposed by a single American cavalry brigade. In terrain totally suited to massed cavalry action the American troopers fought a short delaying action that gained just enough time to prevent the American force from being cut off from its base.

The whole fight had lasted a mere three hours but it had been a bloody affair. Sheridan suffered 15,609 casualties, 2,567 killed 6,923 wounded and 6,119 missing. Bazaine losses had been 2,063 killed, 5,567 wounded and 1,232 missing, a total of 8,862.

The American force limped back into Brownsville as night fell while the French bivouacked on the field.

The Conflict Escalates

Sheridan fortified Brownsville as best he could, but with a mere 16,000 effective troops he could not hope to hold out for long against nearly 60,000 French.

Bazaine, in the meantime moved closer to Brownsville, where he could be more easily supplied and prepared to undertake a siege, cutting the rail line north of the city. At the same time the French navy moved to blockade the place. Slowly he brought more troops North and by the second week of June he had a force of 80,000 around Brownsville.

Sheridan’s defeat sent the administration into a panic. The call to volunteers went out at once, but the call was only made on those states that had remained loyal during the recent rebellion. The genuine fear was that the volunteers could not be organised in time to resist a French invasion and occupation of Texas. A total of 30,000 troops were pulled from garrison duties around the former Confederate states, but this force would be woefully inadequate and would still take time to gather in Texas. Of even greater concern was an increasing number of unsubstantiated rumours that a number of Confederate generals were recruiting former Confederate soldiers for service in Texas raising the spectre of a second Confederacy.

In the meantime the US Navy was ordered to disrupt the French supply lines through the Caribbean, but the French convoys were found to be too well protected and little could be done. A serious attempt was made by an American squadron against a French convoy off Cuba. Ten American vessels struck swiftly and threatened to take captive twenty French ships, before a powerful French squadron intervened. In the battle that followed the American ships were handled well, outmaneuvering the French on a number of occasions and two French ships were disabled early in the fight. But like the previous naval encounters the French seriously outgunned the Americans and by the time dusk began to settle four American ships were damaged and the fight was broken off.

On 1 July Johnson appointed Sherman to command the Army of Texas with headquarters at Galveston. Sherman arrived at Galveston on 14 July to find that his army consisted of only 15,000 men. The army was slow to gather because the US Navy could not guarantee safe passage by sea against the French navy. The bulk of the force had to travel by rail and road.

In the meantime Bazaine had offered that Sheridan and his troops could have safe passage if they abandoned Brownsville. Naturally Sheridan refused and Bazaine gave the civilian population 24 hours to vacate the place before he bombarded the town. On 10 July ten batteries shelled the city for six hours, setting much of the place on fire, but causing very few military casualties. When his additional calls for surrender went unheeded, Bazaine ordered the place bombarded again by all of his field batteries. Nearly 120 guns blazed away at the city for eight hours and at the end of the day Sheridan realised the futility of his position as asked for terms. Since no formal declaration of War existed, Bazaine was generous and allowed him to simply march out of the city, with all his arms, to Galveston.

With Brownsville in his hands Bazaine had no intention to press further. He occupied the place with a reinforced division and withdrew the rest of his command south of the Rio Grande. He had no desire to invade Texas, just to defend the Mexican border. He then sent envoys north to Galveston to negotiate a cessation of hostilities.

The defeat sent a seismic shock through the United States. For the first time in 50 years an American army had been defeated on their own soil by a foreign power. Grant sailed at once for Galveston along with a further 25,000 troops, taking the total number of troops available to 56,000, far too few to consider taking on the French. To make matters worse supply was becoming a serious issue. The railroads of the area were inadequate to support the operation of an army of this size. The only practical way of supporting active operations was using sea, using the inland waterways along the coast, but the French naval superiority placed this route at risk. 

Grant advised Johnson that victory could only be assured if the army was boosted to 100,000 men and supported by a double tracked railroad that would need to be  built from Louisiana through to Corpus Christi. He believed that six months would be required before successful operations could be conducted. The prospect of an extended conflict with an economy in tatters and a rabid press was one that Andrew Johnson felt the nation could not bear.  Johnson instructed Grant to seek an armistice while a diplomatic solution could be found.

Napoleon III did not want an escalation either.  War had erupted in Europe between Austria and Prussia and in early operations the Prussians seemed to hold the upper hand. The balance of power in Europe, more critically the position of France, was at risk. Napoleon needed a way out of Mexico, but he was determined to maintain an influence in the region. He proposed that French troops would withdraw from American soil and in time would withdraw from Mexico, but only if the United States would recognise Maximilian's Empire and withdraw support for the Juarez government.

Johnson was in favour of accepting Napoleon's terms, but knew that public opinion demanded more. However, when evidence emerged that the unsanctioned actions of the group of Mexican Republicans had triggered the whole affair, support for the Republicans diminished and animosity between France and the United States eased. Negotiations took a different turn. As a measure of good faith the French agreed to pay compensation for the damage to Brownsville and the Administration accepted and recognised Maximilian's empire. By the end of August the last French soldier had left US soil and a month later the return to France of the majority of the French Army began. Bazaine returned to France as a hero and a Marchal of France.

Over the next three years Maximilian further provoked the Mexican conservatives by introducing additional liberal reforms and the support for Juarez grew. In the disaster of 1870 the last French troops were pulled out of Mexico to join the defence against the Prussians. The United States took advantage of the situation to cancel the earlier agreement and renewed its support for Juarez. In early 1871 Maximilian's Empire collapsed and its emperor was executed.

So ended a strange and previously unknown period in North American history.

The Adventures of Henri Bonhomme - Episode 5: Epilogue

Previous Episodes

Episode 1: The Affair at Seusslitz

Episode 2: The Battle of Blasthof Bridge

Episode 3: The Battle of Wurzen

Episode 4: Leipzig 

Epilogue

With the failure to break out to the south of Leipzig on the 16 October, significant defeats on 17th and 18th in the northern sector and shortage of artillery ammunition, the Emperor resolved to retreat though Leipzig and across the Elster River. Weak rearguards were posted at some of the outlying villages while the bulk of the army began to retreat across a single bridge on the night of the 18th. Oudinot’s, Reynier’s, Poniatowski’s and Macdonald’s corps were left to defend the city for as long as possible.

Severe street fighting continued throughout the morning of the 19th. Bonhomme's division was withdrawn  around 1:30 PM. The officer commanding the bridge had been instructed to and blow it when the last of the army had crossed, but he left the bridge in charge of an NCO who either misunderstood the instructions or panicked and blew the bridge while it was still crowded with retreating soldiers. The destruction of the bridge caused a panic amongst those trapped. Thousands of French troops were killed and some 30,000 surrendered. Thousands more tried to swim the river to escape, Marshals Oudinot, Macdonald and Poniatowski among them. Poniatowski, who was badly wounded, drowned in the attempt, but Oudinot and Macdonald made it across where they were met on the opposite bank by Bonhomme who managed to find dry clothes for them both. 

As he was guiding the two exhausted and half frozen marshals to safety they came under fire from Coalition guns across the river. A howitzer shell exploded near to Bonhomme and a piece of iron smashed into his left leg, breaking it in two places. He was carried away from the river to a makeshift hospital where surgeons wanted to amputate the leg, but Bonhomme refused to allow it and the leg was splinted. A grateful Macdonald arranged for Bonhomme to be placed in his ambulance to join his personal baggage train. Bonhomme made the painful journey back to France in the company of the ever faithful Baillard...and his wagon full of loot.  

In time his wound healed, but he was never able to take the field again and he forever thereafter walked with a cane and a limp. He returned to his estate near Bordeaux there he developed a fine reputation as a vintner. Every day, regardless of the weather, he could be seen walking his beloved vines, often in the company of his lifelong friend Baillard. His success in this field brought him great wealth and allowed him to build an exquisite chateau in which he displayed many of the artifacts he had ‘collected’ during his time in Egypt, Italy, Austria, Russia and Germany.

Henri Bonhomme died in 1862 at the age of 84, outliving two wives and two of his five children. He left behind a vast wine empire and a huge fortune. In the early 20th Century most his eclectic art collection was donated to the Musée Beaux Arts Bordeaux.

*******

Holzinger was correct in his assumption that Hockmeister would call him out after his rant on the field south of Liebertwolkwitz, but he seriously under estimated Hockmeister's ability. In the ensuing duel Holzinger's shot missed by a wide margin, but Hockmeister's struck its target straight between the eyes. 

Hockmeister remained with the army through the campaign in France in 1814, enjoying the delights of Paris throughout the summer as a part of the Army of Occupation. He returned to Austria in November 1814 as a decorated staff officer. He left the army almost immediately on his return to take up his old life of extravagance and excess. His end came in 1830 when he slipped and fell from the third floor balcony of a Venetian Palazzo while trying to evade an irate husband. 

His vast fortune and family title was argued over for the next decade between several cousins and three illegitimate children.

*******

Boris Knockerov survived another day's fighting at Leipzig on 19 October, participating in the vicious street fighting. He went on to serve in the 1814 campaign and was severely wounded at Arcis-Sur-Arbe on 20 March, losing his left leg and eye when an artillery caisson exploded but a few paces from him. He spent the summer in Paris recuperating, setting out for home in late-August. On that journey, near Smolensk, his wound reopened. Written off by the city's physicians he was taken in by a local healer who nursed him back to health. As a measure of his gratitude Knockerov, the old batchelor, married the woman, with whom he fathered four children.

He was awarded the Imperial Order of Saint Anna (Second Class, with swords) for this services in the wars against Napoleon, placed around his neck by the Tsar himself, along with a gift of 200,000 roubles. He retired from the army to his estate at Drezna, east of Moscow, in 1815. In a period noted in Russia for its extreme autonomy, he ran his estate along very liberal lines, freeing all his serfs and granting those who chose to stay a share of estate's income. He worshiped at the local church and ate lunch with the peasants every Sunday without fail.

He lived another 30 peaceful years, drawing his last breath in 1845 at the age of 96.

*******

Little is known of the life of  Helmut von Pannewitz after Leipzig. No record exists of any service in 1814 or in the Hundred Days, but he continued in the army for another 35 years, rising to the rank of General of Infantry. Sent to observe the operations against the revolutionary forces in Baden in 1848, he fell badly from his horse during a minor skirmish and died four days later.

*******

So ends the Adventures of Henri Bonhomme and other characters.

The Adventures of Henri Bonhomme - Episode 4: Leipzig

Previous Episodes

Episode 1: The Affair at Seusslitz

Episode 2: The Battle of Blasthof Bridge

Episode 3: The Battle of Wurzen

Leipzig - Thursday, 14 October 1813

It had been nineteen days since the Battle of Wurzen where Henri Bonhomme had beaten off the attacks by Russian and Austrian troops. The battle had cost his division some 1,200 casualties along with several hundred of the cavalry forces that has been assigned to him, but the division had rested during that time and many of the lightly wounded had recovered and returned the the ranks. Morale in the division was high after a visit from the Emperor.

Bonhomme had reason to be happy with the result at Wurzen. Macdonald had given him credit for the success and he had been given the honour of dining with the Emperor as a result. What did not please him was that he had still not managed to get his wagon load of loot across the river and away to France. The Gendermerie, in their efforts to curb desertion and control the shirkers, were particularly active in ensuring that no wagons or troops left the operational area. He had tried to use his authority by accompanying the wagon to the bridgehead personally, but the Gendarmes were adamant that nothing was to cross the river without specific instructions from Imperial Headquarters. So he waited for an opportunity.

As the October days passed rumours of the approach of the enemy increased. Something big was brewing.

*******

Following the disaster at Wurzen Hockmeister had been removed from his command at the insistence of the Russians. However, his aristocratic rank demanded that he remain with the army and was assigned to Corps Headquarters, an assignment that he found particularly appealing because there was an excellent supply of food and wine that attracted a large number of pretty women to the mess tables.

His duties were light - the occasional inspection here and there, or an order delivered. There was plenty of time for “extracurricular” activities. This staff placement was a good thing for a man like Albrecht Hockmeister.

******

Boris Knockerov still smarted from the repluse at Wurzen. If that idiot Hockmeister simply done as he was told and held the French in place instead of making that bungling attack he could have taken the French position and cleared the road that would have allowed the Coalition forces to concentrate ten days ago and probably have caught the French before they could form. Now they that were concentrated tightly around Leipzig, a dangerous force ready to strike out. Still at least he had manged to get Hockmeister removed from command and assigned to headquarters where he could no real harm.

Knockerov’s command had suffered heavily at Wurzen, but he had spent the last 19 days wisely re-equipping and consolidating some weakened battalions. When his corps commander fell ill he had been given command of the corps that now comprised of:

• 26th Infantry Division: two brigades each of two musketeers battalions, one brigade of two jäger battalions, 1 position and one horse battery
• 15th Infantry Division: one brigade of three musketeer battalions, one brigade of two musketeer battalions, one brigade of two jäger battalions,
• Corps Artillery Reserve: two position and two horse batteries
• Cavalry Division: one brigade of three dragoon regiments, one brigade of two mounted jäger regiments and four cossack regiments.

The supply services were as poor and corrupt as ever. Some troops had gone without food for days and the French had already stripped the area of supplies. Morale was low.

Knockerov held an advanced position near Guldengossa a few kilometers south east of Leipzig. Plans were in preparation for the next day. He expected to receive his orders at any moment.

*******

The Prussians were moving in support of the Russians. Helmut von Pannewitz's command had been expanded since the action of Blasthof Bridge. His weakened brigade had been expanded to two brigades consisting of 6 line, 2 fusilier, 4 reserve and 4 landwehr battalions plus two field batteries. His command had advanced in parallel with and in support of the Russians, with whom he had a good working relationship. As night fell on the 14th his command was in camp at Trena, about one kilometer behind Knockerov’s Russians. Orders would come soon, but it was expected that he would support the Russians.

*******

To the east of Knockerov stood the Austrians, their extreme left held by Holzinger and his rebuilt division. Holzinger was itiching for a fight. The affairs at Seusslitz, Blasthof and Wurzen had been frustrating largely because the bumbling Hockmeister had interfered. He had carefully rebuilt the shattered battalions and morale was high. Like all Coalition leaders he was eagerly awaiting orders.

*******

Marshal Macdonald's Corps consisted of four divisions:  Ledru des Essarts' 31st Division, Gerard's 35th Division, Bonhomme's 36th Division and Marchand's 39th Division.  They were all gathered north the village of of Holzhausen, a few kilometres east of Leipzig. The Marshal returned from Imperial headquarters mid-afternoon and called four his senior commanders to his tent. They all knew that a big fight was brewing and were anxious to hear the plans.

General Grundler, Macdonald's prim and proper chief of staff, fussed about setting up a table in front of the headquarters tent on which he spread out the maps. A second table with bread, cold meats, cheese and a couple of bottles of red wine was set to one side. 

Macdonald stepped out the tent into the cold air. He walked to the table of food, grabbed a piece of bread, some cheese and poured a cup of wine.

"Damned cold isn't it?", he said as he slapped his hat on the map table. 

"Saturday is the day, gentlemen...the day after tomorrow," he continued. He moved Grundler's carefully arranged maps and then spilt some of his wine over them. Bonhomme took amusement at the look of annoyance on Grudler's face. MacDonald continued, "the Emperor had decided that we will attack to the south on Saturday. The main thrust will be made by II, V and VIII Corps between the river and Wachau. We will go in on their left, around of Liebertswolkswitz." He stabbed at the location on the map with his index finger. "We will be supported by Sebastiani's cavalry and are to envelop the enemy right." He indicated the sweep of the flanking envelopment on the map with his hand. "When the action is fully developed, the Guard will deliver the coup de grace through the centre."

"We will assemble tomorrow and then march on Liebertswolkswitz at first light on Saturday. We will sort out the actual dispositions tomorrow, but for now go to your commands...see to your men are ready ..."

That was the dismissal and the men started to move away. MacDonald nodded to Bonhomme to follow him towards the fire. They walked the few paces towards the warmth. The Marshal pulled his coat high up over his shoulders and put out his hands to warm them.  "Damn it's cold!" he said.

"This is it Henri. This is the big one. How are your men?"

"Good. As good as can be expected. But there are a lot of conscripts so they need to be handled carefully."

Macdonald nodded knowingly. "I'm going to put you in the front line, Henri. You'll be on the right, Gerard on the left with Marchand between you. I'll put Ledru des Essarts in reserve. He is a good man, for sure, but I'm not quite sure of some of his regiments. I know I can count on you Henri."

"Appreciate the confidence sir, we will do our job."

"I know you will...I hate this cold...would rather fight in the warmth."

Bonhomme smiled, "but we have done well in the cold before - Austerlitz and Eylau..."

"True enough...just wish the ground was firmer. I need wine...join me?"

"No need to twist my arm...," Bonhomme replied as the Marshal's servant poured two cups.

"Now that wagon that has been following you for the last couple of weeks, Henri, is it what I think it is?"

Bonhomme smiled. "The gendarmes won't let me send it west...even with my personal note."

"I'm sending my baggage off tonight. You can add it to my train if you wish. They won't question a Marshal of France..."

"You'd do that for me?"

"Of course Henri, we have served together a long time and you have gotten me out of more than a couple of scrapes...least I can do. Send the wagon over after this...there may not be a chance after today."

Bonhomme thanked him. The Marshal looked off into the distance. "Look after yourself in these next few days Henri. It going to be a tough fight. Best I can make of it there are something like 300,000 converging on us - Russians, Prussians, Austrians and Swedes. The most we can mass is 200,000 and many of them aren't the best troops, as you know. If things don't go well for us this is going to be a hard place to get out of."

"You look after yourself too Jacques."

Macdonald laughed and said, "look to your men, Henri...Bon Chance!" And with that the turned and walked away. Bonhomme finished his wine, mounted and rode back to his camp to tell Baillard to go with the wagon of loot to the Marshal's camp.

*******

Saturday, 16 October

Saturday dawned cold and foggy. Boris Knockerov held the extreme right of the Russian line, directly in front of Wachau. His orders were simple: take the village and keep pushing north. 

“Can’t see a damn thing in this fog,” he complained to his ADC. All he could do was plunge forward. The corps stepped off just before 8:00 AM. Soon the buildings loomed out of the fog and the firing started. It was just the pop, pop, pop of skirmisher fire at first, but was soon followed by crashing musketry volleys. Thankfully most of the French were firing high and the Russian battalions only suffered slightly. When they neared the buildings their pace quickened and they closed in on the French defenders who gave up their position easily.

With the jägers in the lead the Russians raced through the village, but when they reached the northern boundary they were met by a storm of French artillery fire. The advance stalled. Knockerov was furious. There was no place to deploy his guns and without artillery support he could not hope to advance. He desperately tried to form a firing line, but every attempt to push beyond the town was broken up and driven back.

The fog was clearing although the smoke from the gunfire still hung low. He could hear them coming before he saw them, the tramping of thousands of feet. When they appeared it was an inspiring sight. Battalion after battalion advancing with precision. He had no guns forward to break up the attack and his front line was inadequately formed. His battalions soon fell back before the French columns.

With some horror Knockerov watched his troops pouring back through Wachau with the French light infantry harassing them as they went. But where passing through village had caused problems for the Russians, it caused the same problem for the French. The columns had to swing wide to pass around it and they bunched up in doing so. As they rounded the sides of the buildings the Russian gunners further back brought them under fire. Now it was the turn of the French to try to form up under fire and they did a better job of it than the Russians and managed to push forward several hundred paces before the Russian gunfire began to bite.

Knockerov managed to bring the 15th Division in to line and began to push back. The French advance fell back,  but could not be driven. They had brought guns forward and blasted away at frighteningly close range.

A desperate fire fight developed although it was impossible to see what was happening through the dense clouds of smoke. The fight was stagnating. Knockerov had only cavalry uncommitted and there was no opportunity to engage them here. He knew he just had to hold on until support came up.

Off to his right he could see the white coats of the Austrians advancing against Liebertwolkwitz.

*******

Macdonald had issued his orders early on Friday so that each of his commanders had ample time to make his arrangements. The advance was to begin at daybreak on Saturday. Bonhomme was to hold the right of Macdonald’s line to the right of the large village of Liebertswolkwitz. The 2nd Heavy Cavalry Division would be to his rear, in support. Marchand’s the 39th Infantry Division would be on his left, directly in front of the village.

In line with Macdonald’s orders Bonhomme had his division on the march from Holshausen to Liebertswolkwitz at dawn. The ground was still heavy from several days of rain and a heavy fog shrouded the field. At 8:00 AM, as Bonhomme’s columns neared Liebertswolkwitz, heavy firing broke out to the right near the village of Wachau. The Russians it seemed had collided with Marshal Victor’s II Corps. Unable to observe the fighting in the smoke Bonhomme listened carefully to the developing action. It soon became evident that Victor was being driven back and Bonhomme prepared to face a threat from that direction.

“Steady Henri,” Macdonald said as he rode up. “Lauriston’s and Pontiatowski’s Corps are there to assist him. Our job lies to their left. Hold the course. We have to drive beyond Liebertswolkwitz, and keep that lot tried up until the Guard come up. The cavalry will guard your flank. Just watch Marchand to your left, he may have some trouble in the town.”

Bonhomme nodded in agreement, but for his own safety deployed one battalion of the 33rd Legere in open order to his right, just to protect against any surprises.

********

Holzinger had his battalions formed before dawn and the men waited in the cold foggy morning until they heard the Russians to their left go into action. By 8:00 the fog was beginning to lift and he could see that the Russian line had halted and was fiercely engaged.

Directly in front of him Holzinger saw the village of Liebertswolkwitz. All he could see were a few French skirmishers in the gardens of the village. He waited for the order to advance and hoped it would come soon, before the French could completely occupy the village.

He looked to his right and saw the division there preparing to advance. Surely the order for him to move could not be far away, Looking behind he saw a rider coming. “This must be it,” he thought. As the rider neared he had a familiatity. “Damn it, it's Hockmeister!”

“Good moring General,” Hockmeister said in greeting. “Complements of Field Marshal Klum. You are to advance at once on Liebertswolkwitz. You are to secure the village and anchor the left of our line. If practical you can push beyond the town, but do not lose grip on the place. I am to remain with you and have the authority of the Field Marshal to direct operations where needed.”

Holzinger seethed, but tried not to let it show. He turned sharply away and gave the order to advance. The Grenadiers were on the left, with the Grenz and the jagers to their right and the three battalions of Regiment Freiherr von Zach in support directly behind the Grenadiers. Regiment Hockmeister formed the general reserve some 200 paces behind Von Zach To the right stood the artillery, which was already in action.

Holzinger did not want to try to storm Liebertwolkwitz, rather he wanted to mask it with the Grenz, the jagers and the guns, while the the line infantry and grenadiers looked to sweep around the outside of the village. It was a significant attacking column and it stepped off confidently at a steady pace.

To his surprise the French gave way easily in the village and he ordered the Grenz and Jagers to secure it, and sent two battalions of Regiment Hockmeister to support.

*******

Bonhomme’s advance was slowed by a large patch of boggy ground north of Liebertwolkwitz and Marchand closed up on the place a full 20 minutes ahead of Bonhomme’s first battalions. Marchand immediately clashed with the Austrian infantry who had entered the southern edge of the town as his troops entered from the north. The fighting there erupted fiercely and Bonhomme watched with concern.

As he closed in on Marchand’s right Bonhomme noted the approach of a significant body of Austrian and he prepared to receive the attack. But the Austrians were coming on in big solid blocks and faster than he initially thought.

They didn’t pause to fire, just came on. Zentz’s men opened fire with some effect, but the advance was not stopped. He could see more now and the Austrians were a mere 50 paces from Zentz's line. White uniforms with fur busbys, “Damn it...grenadiers,” he thought. He saw them level their muskets and waited for the collision.

The impetus of the Austrian masses drove back Zentz’s lines. A huge noise accompanied the meeting of the forces. Zentz was giving ground, but his lines were not breaking. Bonhomme warned Saint-Arnaud, whose brigade stood behind Zentz in column of divisions, to be ready.

The Austrian advance was beginning to slow. Some groups halted to fire while others rushed forward to try to grapple. Zentz was still holding, but Bonhomme could see fresh masses behind the grenadiers. They would soon overwehlm Zentz. He gave the order for Saint-Arnaud to go. He saw the columns advance and push their way through Zentz’s now disordered line and plowed into the Austrian grenadiers, who recoiled under the impact of the fresh troops and fell back towards their supports.

Bonhomme rode forward to Saint-Arnaud and yelled “Push them, Christophe, push them hard.” With that he looked to the rest of the division, telling Zentz to reform behind Pouget, and put Pouget on alert. Then he turned to watch Saint-Arnaud’s fight.

*******

Holzinger was forward with the troops. Since the disaster at Wurzen, where the battalion masses had been too tightly bunched so that they could not manoeuvre, he had worked with the regimental and battalion commanders to ensure that they left sufficient a gap between the masses to allow fugitives to pass between. Now, as the grenadiers began to withdraw, that training was paying off. The grenadiers were passing through those broad gaps without disturbing the fresh masses of the Von Zach battalions that stood to  the rear.

The French we coming on but were still some 200 paces away. The three battalions of von Zach were well placed and as the Grenadiers cleared them Holinger watched with pleasure as the centre battalion deployed into line as though it was on the parade ground. When the French were about 100 paces distant he saw the line deliver a heavy volley and the French columns halted. The two flank battalions now shook themselves out into line and the French columns did the same. Within minutes a huge firefight erupted across the front. The smoke was so intense that it was impossible to see anything. The fire continued with neither side giving any ground.

Holzinger was pleased with the way things were going. The grenadiers had been pushed back, but were not broken and were reforming to the rear. He was keen to push the issue further and prepared to push one or both of the two reserve battalions of Regiment Hockmeister to tip the fight in his favour, but when he turned back to call them forward he saw them moving off to the right with Hockmeister leading them!

*******

Bonhomme watched Saint-Arnaud’s battalions drive back the Austrian grenadiers, but fresh masses stood behind them. He encouraged Saint-Arnaud to push on and break the Austrian further south. He could see that Marchand was struggling in the village, where the Austrians seemed to be getting the upper hand. Bonhomme had troops to spare to support him, but if Saint-Arnaud could drive the enemy off then he could flank the village which would probably force the Austrians out without a heavy cost in casualties.

As he watched Saint-Arnaud’s brigade stall in a fire fight and was considering whether he should commit Pouget to sustain the attack when he saw Marchand’s battalions falling back. Immediately Bonhomme scribbled an order to Pouget to shift two battalions to support that line, but before he could despatch it the Marshal was beside him.

Picking up what Bonhomme was thinking, Macdonald said, “I’ll take care of that, Henri. Just look to your front. Drive on!”

Bonhomme rode to Pouget. “In you go General”, he said. “push three battalions to the right and flank that line. If there is nothing behind them push the rest in. Go!”

Pouget set off with enthusiasm. His was the largest brigade and the one that could sweep the field. With Pouget under way. Bonhomme looked back to Zentz whose troops were beginning to reform, but it would be another half hour before they could be called on in an emergency and probably an hour before they were properly reformed.

He watched Pouget extend to the right ready to overlap the Austrian line.

*******

Seeing his two reserve battalions led away by Hockmiester to the right had Holzinger seething. He needed to push on, but the attack had stalled. He needed troops to bolster his line, but didn’t have time to confront Hockmeister now. The only troops available to him were the two battalions of grenadiers that were rallying to the rear. He looked at where they had halted and noted that some companies had completely reformed, but most had not. They would have to do. He rode to the brigadier and ordered him to take what he had to the left and take the rest across when order was restored. At the same time he saw the hussar regiment and the horse battery from the light brigade standing idle and ordered them to the left too.

Holzinger personally rode with the grenadiers and formed them into line just as fresh French troops overlapped his left. The grenadiers fired and the French paused briefly. But there were many more French than grenadiers and it was only a matter time before they were overwhelmed. Just then the hussars came up. Holzinger directed them to the extreme right of the line and watched as the French battalion on the end of their line scrambled to form square.

For now the line was holding, but something was happening on the right.

*******

Pouget pushed three battalions beyond the Austrian left, Bonhomme saw that were immediately engaged and began to worry that the Austrians may be stronger than he had thought. But Pouget was back with him now.

“There is nothing behind them...just some fugitives trying to rally. They have committed their last reserves and if we hit them now they will break,” he shouted excitedly.

“Then go, go now and go quickly,” was Bonhomme’s reply.

Pouget raced back to his reserve and with in minutes they were moving forward. Saint-Arnaud’s battalions opened up their lines and allowed Pouget battalions in column of divisions to pass through. The impact of the fresh units was immediate. The columns pressed on through dense smoke and smashed into the Austrian lines worn down by the firefight. The Austrian battalion immediately adjacent to the village broke taking with it a portion of the battalion to its left. The rest of that battalion swung back like a gate, holding its ground for just a few minutes until Pouget’s next battalion hit it.

The whole Austrian line was soon crumbling. Pouget was forward in the brigade line pushing his battalions further. Bonhomme was watching closely making sure that he did not to push too far until the village had been cleared. He saw Pouget twist in the saddle then fall. He clearly was hit. Bonhomme spurred his horse forward and was soon up where he had fallen. Pouget was on the ground  with various staff around him. Bonhomme caught Commandant Duclos, Pouget's senior aide.

"Is it bad?" He asked.

"The wound isn't, sir but the fall was. He is unconscious and may have broken his leg."

"Who has command?"

"No one at present sir," Duclos replied. "The colonel and lieutenant colonel of the 48th are down and two of its battalions are under senior captains. I don't know about the 23rd...it's off to the right, although someone said their colonel is also hit. But the troops are good here, sir. They broke before we got near them. Our losses are not heavy."

"Good," Bonhomme said. "You have command Duclos, under my authority. I'll leave Arnoux from my staff with you to reinforce that authority." He signalled Arnoux forward and then continued, "swing two battalions to the left, flank the village. Rally the rest of the brigade here. Do not push further forward until we have cleared the village. And get Pouget back to the surgeons."

Bonhomme saw the retreating Austrians and thought "if ever there was time for cavalry to attack, this is it." But Sabatini's cavalry that was supposed to be in support was nowhere to be seen. Bonhomme rode back to see how Saint-Arnaud and Zentz were doing.

*******

Holzinger retreated with this crumbling left flank. The hussars were the only unit he could count on now. They broke into three distinct units, each of two squadrons and fell back slowly with one group holding the French infantry at bay by threatening to charge, while the other took a position further back. They repeated the process several times until a gap of 500 paces was established. But the French weren't following. They seemed content to hold their position. 

Holzinger rode towards Lieberwolkswitz. There he saw Hockmeister with the two battalions of Regiment Hockmeister standing idly by 200 paces outside the village. Holzinger rode up to him, so enraged that at first he couldn't speak.

"Why did you take my only reserve?" He yelled.

"The fight in the village was not proceeding well and I believed more troops were needed there," Hockmeister replied. 

Holzinger shook his head, "four full battalions...nearly 5,000 men...was more than enough to hold that place against four times that number. You didn't think to ask me or even see what was happening on the left? They were my only reserve. You took them away and now the line has collapsed. All those lives lost. You caused this. It is an act of unbelievable incompetence.!"

One of his staff whispered, "sir he is a superior officer..."

"Superior! Superior! He is no superior. He holds his rank because of his social position, not by his military skill." He knew he was ranting, but couldn't stop."The lowest illiterate soldier in a Polish regiment is more competent than that idiot! You disgust me," he said directly to Hockmeister's face. Hockmeister just stood there.

He looked toward the village and saw the defenders falling back. But they were good order. He turned to his staff and said, "get them to fall back to the hussars. Bring the guns up and form some kind of line. Let's see if we can recover something from this fiasco." He threw a filthy look Hockmeister, turn his horse and rode away.

Holzinger realised he had gone too far and that Hockmeister had every right to challenge him, but if he was to issue a challenge Holzinger knew he would have the right to select the weapon and he could shoot as well as any other man in the army. 

*******

With his troops rallied Bonhomme was keen to push on and drive off the last of the Austrians, but Macdonald cautioned him. "We have done our bit, Henri. We are to hold here, keep a firm grip on the village and hold that lot in place while the main effort is made on the right."

"It's quietening down over there," Bonhomme noted.

"Yes, Victor has been knocked back and the advance had stalled, but the Emperor has massed 150 guns in those heights...it's called the Galgenberg...the hangman's hill...a fitting name in a way because intends to blast a gap for the Guard to push through. How did you fare?"

"It was a tough fight. Zentz's men got knocked around a bit. Pouget is down," Bonhomme said

"Is it bad?" the Marshal asked.

"The wound's not bad by all accounts, but the fall from the horse may have done more damage."

"Never was much of a horseman," Macdonald said with a wry smile. Bonhomme shared a smile - a bit of battlefield humour.

"Consolidate your position Henri. We may be called on again...and I'd find a good vantage point if I were you...when that grand battery opens up, it's likely to be an impressive sight."

Bonhomme looked at his watch and was surprised to see that it was after mid-day. Time had passed quickly.

*******

Around Wachau Knockerov's battalions had established themselves and their supporting batteries were just taking position when the French guns opened. It took them a few rounds to find the range but the soon found their mark.  Knockerov alarm for the safety of his command rose as the volume of fire increased. He looked toward where he thought the fire was coming from, a broad ridge 1,000 paces distant. The whole ridge, maybe two and a half kilometres wide was shrouded in smoke. 

"Good God!"He thought. "There must be a hundred guns there...we won't be able to withstand this for long."

Shot and shell, maybe two hundred rounds a minute, rained in tearing holes in the Russian ranks. The sound of the bombardment was deafening - the booming of the guns, the incoming rounds and the screams of the wounded. Entire battalions were quite literally torn apart. The Russian batteries struggled to respond.

Knockerov could see that his troops were becoming unsteady. He looked to the rear to where the supporting Prussians were. They were gone. Just half an hour before they had been standing there, 400 paces to the rear, in great dark masses.

He couldn’t remain here and gave the order to pull back some 400 paces to a spot where the ground dipped, providing at least a degree of protection from the storm of shot. Wachau had caught fire and its smoke mingled with the powder smoke making visibility almost impossible, but at least it helped conceal his retreating masses from the French gunners.

“Another bloody disaster” he thought.

*******

The fire was directed against the Russians but many of rounds overshot the target and despite the soft ground came bounding on across the fields and into the ranks of his troops well to the rear. Pannewitz had his battalions in columns for ease of manoeuver, but their dense formations were now their disadvantage. He started to shake them into lines to try minimise the effect of the fire when Colonel Rheinhold, from the corps staff, rode up with instructions to move back 1000 paces out of the range of the guns and preserve the troops. With huge relief the troops fell back.

*******

As the grand battery thundered, Bonhomme watched the enemy melt away. The guns must have fired for half an hour, maybe more before they fell silent and when the smoke cleared he could see that a great gap had opened in the enemy lines. The Emperor’s tactic had worked. And as he stood there watching he caught a glimpse of the Emperor with his staff on the hill.

For a the next half hour the field was strangely quiet. Then he saw them coming from the north. Great masses of mounted troops. They were advancing to exploit the great gap the guns had created. It was a magnificent sight, column after column of cavalry, but he did wonder why they were so tightly packs, surely they needed space to manoeuvre.

The cavalry swept south of Bonhomme’s postion, but before it pressed much further it was met by a body of enemy cavalry and there was a huge clash. 

It now became apparent that the tight masses of the French cavalry was their disadvantage and the Russians and Prussian squadrons began to quickly gain the upper hand. 

The French cavalry then were swept back to where they came from, closely pursued by the Coalition horse. 

Then more French cavalry counterattacked and the Coalition cavalry retreated at pace. 

Such was the way of cavalry battles.

Once the cavalry had cleared the field the battlefield fell strangely silent again. Then up came the Guard. Bonhomme watched in awe as they marched in perfect order. They marched into the gap between Libertswolkwitz and Wachau then wheeled slightly to the right. Soon after they collided with the enemy in an almighty crash of musketry and shouting. The fighting raged for half an hour or more and it soon became clear that the Guard were not driving the enemy.

*******

Pannewitz was greatly relieved when the French guns fell silent and had watched with interest the cavalry battle that followed, but when he saw the great mass of infantry pouring through the game between the villages he had concerns. The Russians to his front had been smashed by the French bombardment and had been withdrawn. He was now directly in the path of this new attacking column. His concerns were turned to fears when a staff officer rode past shouting “its the Guard...he has committed the Old Guard!”.

He ordered the battalions to prepare to receive an attack. The batteries were charged with canister and Pannewitz rode along the line calling out to make every shot count. He watched the French come on. Then as they came to within 600 paces of his line, a small part of their column remained facing him, while the rest executed a wheel to their right. He looked to his left and saw that here was a large force of infantry moving to meet the attack. It was the combined Prussian and Russian Guard. Both forces marched towards each other in immaculate order. When they came to within 200 paces the firing began to increase as they got to within 100 paces the noise was beyond belief. Volley after volley was traded with neither side giving way. Shrouded in smoke the fight continued for half an hour with no sign of it letting up.

In front of his line the guns blasted the French with canister and they seemed reluctant to close in, although they outnumbered his force considerably. He just kept his troops in line and firing, hoping that they would not approach any further. To his joy he noted that those battalions facing the Russian and Prussian Guard were giving ground. Hoping that the inclusion of his battalions could tip the fight, he ordered his men to advance on the French. The Guards reacted swiftly to this threat and opened a deadly musketry that caused his battalions to pause. The men held their ground and gave as good as they got, but Pannewitz was unwilling to try to push forward. As the French began to recoil he became bolder and pushed two battalions on his left forward. The Guard were not done yet and struck back. The Prussian infantry fell back in disorder.

The French infantry continued to withdraw and while the Prussian and Russian Guards followed them as far as Wachau, most of the fighting on the southern front began to die out.

TO BE CONTINUED...