Battle of Montereau

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Montereau Part of the Napoleonic Wars Date February 18, 1814 Location Montereau-Fault-Yonne, France Result French Victory Belligerents First French Empire Austria Kingdom of Württemberg Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte Field Marshal Schwarzenberg Frederick I of Württemberg Casualties and losses 2,500 6,000

v • d • e War of the Sixth Coalition Lützen – Bautzen – Großbeeren – Katzbach – Dresden – Kulm – Dennewitz – Leipzig – Hanau – Sehested – Brienne – La Rothière – Mincio – Six Days Campaign – Mormans – Montereau – Bar-sur-Aube – Craonne – Laon – Reims – Arcis-sur-Aube – La Fère-Champenoise – Montmartre – 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.

[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 Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg, was threatening 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 the Prince of 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 Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno, to Montereau, but Victor's force was slow in marching on Montereau, this gave time for Württemberg to strengthen his hasty positions. Harassing Cavalry attacks by General Claude Pierre, comte Pajol, managed to push back outposts and slow the improvements of the defenses, but could do little else without the support of the infantry troops of General Victor-Perrin.

At 9:00AM on the 18th Victor arrived at Montereau, Napoleon furious with Victor’s slow advance, replaced him with General Étienne Maurice 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 Montereau’s defences. Frederick I of Württemberg subsequently ordered a retreat, but it was soon turned into a rout by a cavalry forces lead by Claude Pierre, comte Pajol leading a sweep into the village and Allied rear. Pajol’s cavalry charge also prevented the Allies from detonating demolition charges on two key bridges allowing further pursuit.

[edit] Conclusion

The Allies suffered 6,000 casualties and lost 15 cannons, the French suffered 2,500 casualties^[2]. The army of Frederick I of Württemberg was in full retreat and that of Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg fled eastwards towards Troyes in disarray.

[edit] Footnotes

1. ^ Eggenberger. pg.284
2. ^ 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.