Battle of Montereau

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Battle of Montereau

Date	February 18, 1814
Location	Montereau-Fault-Yonne, France
Result	French Victory

Combatants

France

Austria

Kingdom of Württemberg

Commanders

Napoleon Bonaparte

Field Marshal Schwarzenberg

Frederick I of Württemberg

Casualties

2,500

6,000

War of the Sixth Coalition
Lützen – Bautzen – Großbeeren – Katzbach – Dresden – Kulm – Dennewitz – Leipzig – Hanau – La Rothière – Champaubert – Montmirail – Château-Thierry – Vauchamps – Montereau – Craonne – Laon – Arcis-sur-Aube – Paris

The Battle of Montereau was fought near Montereau-Fault-Yonne on February 18, 1814 and resulted the victory of the French under Napoleon Bonaparte against Austrians and the Württembergeois under Royal Prince of Württemberg.

1 Background
2 Battle
3 Conclusion
4 Footnotes
5 References

[edit] Background

Following his successes with the Six Days Campaign (10th to 14th February, 1814) in smashing the Allied drive on Paris,Napoleon headed southward towards Seine River where the main Austrian Army under Schwarzeberg was treating Paris from the southeast. Napoleon stopped the advance on Paris at Mormant (about 30 miles from Paris) on 17th February, some French units had to march 60 miles in 36 hours to reach Mormant^[1]. This action, plus defeats suffered by the Prussians to the north, caused Schwarzeberg to order a retreat. Schwarzeberg left Frederick I of Württemberg , to command a rearguard at the key village of Montereau, which was located at the confluence of the Rivers Seine and Yonne.

[edit] Battle

Napoleon ordered Marshal Victor to Montereau, Victor was slow in marching on Montereau, this gave time for Württemberg to strengthen his positions. Cavalry attacks by General Pajol managed to push back outposts, but could do little else without the support of Victor’s troops. At 9:00AM on the 18th Victor arrived at Montereau, Napoleon was furious with Victor’s slow advance, and replaced him with General Gérard. Gérard set to work establishing fire superiority over Württemberg’s defending troops. By early afternoon artillery of the Imperial Guard had arrived and allowed Gérard to silence Württemberg’s batteries and bombard the village. At 3:00PM a French attack captured a ridge forming the key to Württemberg’s defence. Württemberg ordered a retreat, but soon turned into a rout by a cavalry charge lead by Pajol, which sweep into the village and Allied rear. Pajol’s cavalry charge also prevented the Allies from detonating demolition charges on two key bridges.

[edit] Conclusion

The Allies suffered 6,000 casualties and lost 15 cannons, the French suffered 2,500 casualties^[2]. Württemberg was in full retreat and Schwarzeberg fled eastwards towards Troyes.

[edit] Footnotes

^ Eggenberger. pg.284
^ Chandler. The Campaigns of Napoleon. pg.980

[edit] References

Chandler, David G. The Campaigns of Napoleon. Scribner, 1966.
Chandler, David. Dictionary of the Napoleonic wars. Wordsworth editions, 1999.
Eggenberger, D. An Encyclopaedia of Battles. Dover Publications inc., 1985.