What happened during the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube in 1814?
Napoleon fought a battle against Allied forces led by Schwarzenberg and Blücher on the 20th of March 1814. The French army faced approximately 100,000 enemies arrayed in three lines stretching from the Aube to the Barbuise.
Who commanded the French forces at the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube?
Napoleon commanded the French army which included Marshals Auguste de Marmont, Édouard Mortier, Ney, Horace Sebastiani, MacDonald, Nicolas Oudinot, and Pierre François Xavier Boyer. These leaders coordinated infantry divisions such as Janssens' division and cavalry units under Colbert and Exelmans.
How many soldiers were present at the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube?
George Nafziger credited the Allies with 83,400 infantry and 24,500 cavalry while Napoleon had 29,800 troops. Digby Smith and Gaston Bodart counted 100,000 Allied soldiers of whom only 43,000 came into action while the French army numbered 23,000-foot soldiers and 7,000 horsemen.
When did the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube take place?
The battle occurred on the 20th of March 1814 when Schwarzenberg ordered Wrede to take position at Saint-Nabord-sur-Aube. Fighting continued through the day until the evening when Oudinot blocked the causeway on the north bank of the Aube.
What were the casualties for each side in the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube?
Chandler wrote that the battle cost the French 3,000 casualties and the Allies 4,000 casualties. Smith and Bodart stated that the French lost 3,400 killed and wounded plus three guns and 800 men captured while Allied losses were about 3,000.