Battle of Dresden
On the 16th of August 1813, Napoleon dispatched Marshal Saint-Cyr's corps to fortify Dresden. This city in modern-day Germany became a critical pivot point for the War of the Sixth Coalition. Austria had recently joined the alliance against France, emboldening their quest to expel French forces from Central Europe. Napoleon commanded a field army of 442,810 men and 1,284 guns across 559 battalions and 395 squadrons. The opposing Coalition fielded 512,113 men in 556 battalions, 572 squadrons, 68 Cossack regiments, and 1,380 guns. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the French held a strategic advantage through interior lines. The Coalition avoided direct engagement with Napoleon himself, choosing instead to attack his subordinate commanders as per the Trachenberg Plan. On the 23rd of August, Crown Prince Charles of Sweden defeated Marshal Oudinot at Grossbeeren south of Berlin. Three days later on the 26th of August, Prussian Marshal Blücher crushed Marshal MacDonald's army at Katzbach.
On the 25th of August, three monarchs assembled on an overlook of Dresden to discuss strategy. Alexander I of Russia, Francis I of Austria, and Frederick William III of Prussia surveyed the city's weak defenses from this vantage point. The Tsar and General Jean Victor Moreau wanted to attack immediately, but Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg insisted on waiting for additional forces. The following day, Schwarzenberg sent over 200,000 Coalition men to assault Saint-Cyr's positions. The Army of Bohemia divided into three parts: Left Wing under Schwarzenberg included nine infantry divisions and 128 guns; Right Wing under Wittgenstein comprised Russian and Prussian troops with 158 guns; Reserves behind the center held the best Russian and Prussian units with about 150 guns. Napoleon arrived from the north around 10:00am with Guard Infantry and Murat's Cavalry Corps after forced marches over three days. A lull in fighting occurred between noon and 3:00pm while French reinforcements took position. The Coalition began bombardment and general assault against southern suburbs at approximately 3:00pm. Wittgenstein's Russians suffered heavy losses from artillery and were stopped by French defensive positions. Despite local successes, coalition forces failed to break through fortified positions like Großer Garten.
After being reinforced overnight with Victor's II Corps and Marmont's VI Corps, Napoleon attacked the morning of the 27th of August in steady rain. Flooded Weisseritz river cut off a large portion of the Coalition left flank commanded by Johann von Klenau and Ignaz Gyulai from the main body. Marshal Joachim Murat exploited this isolation and inflicted heavy losses on the Austrians. A French participant observed that nearly all of Klenau's battalions were compelled to lay down their arms. Lieutenant Field Marshal Joseph, Baron von Mesko de Felsö-Kubiny's division of five infantry regiments was surrounded and captured by Murat's cavalry, amounting to approximately 13,000 men and 15 colours. During a rainstorm, damp flints and powder rendered Austrian muskets useless. Many battalions became easy prey for French cuirassiers and dragoons. The infantry used flintlocks back then which became practically useless when fuses got wet. General de Bordesoulle's cuirassier division found itself before an Austrian division built in an infantry square. Bordesoulle offered surrender terms which the Austrian general rejected. When French horses stuck up to their hooves in mud, the Austrian general objected that his men would fight with bayonets. Only after bringing six guns within thirty paces did the Austrian division finally lay down its arms.
By about 5:00pm on the 27th of August, the entire Coalition force had to slowly pull back even though Schwarzenberg's powerful reserves remained uncommitted. That night, the Coalition decided they had enough and quietly withdrew south. Napoleon did not realize they had left until the following morning. The Coalition lost some 38,000 men, 40 guns, and 15 colours during these two days of fighting. Total Austrian losses amounted to 16,300 men plus 22 guns. French casualties totaled around 10,000. Some officers noted Napoleon was suffering from a violent colic brought on by cold rain exposure during the second day of battle. Historian Modest Bogdanovich observed that despite individual commanders like Zieten and Colloredo covering themselves with glory, the lack of unity of command prevented total victory. Neither Moreau's experience nor Jomini's profound knowledge could compensate for shortcomings at the top. The allies had almost double the cavalry and advantage in artillery, yet these advantages failed to overcome coordination failures. Many of the individual commanders fought bravely but lacked prompt mutual understanding and fast execution.
On the 27th of August, General Vandamme received orders to advance on Pirna and bridge the Elbe there with his I Corps. This advance occurred in pouring rain without disturbing Russian forces drawn up on heights of Zehista. Vandamme's force ran into coalition troops withdrawing from Dresden and resulted in the Battle of Kulm three days later. After being attacked from all sides, Vandamme was eventually compelled to surrender. This loss along with defeats of Marshal Oudinot and Marshal MacDonald overshadowed Napoleon's victory at Dresden. Napoleon's old rival Jean Victor Marie Moreau died later on the 2nd of September in Louny after being mortally wounded in the battle. Moreau had only recently returned from exile in the United States and was talking to the Tsar who wished to see Napoleon defeated. The Coalition surrounded and destroyed a French corps advancing into their line of withdrawal at Kulm. Three days after the main battle, this destruction prevented any major pursuit despite the weather conditions.
The author and composer E. T. A. Hoffmann happened to be in Dresden during the battle while employed by a locally based orchestra. On the 22nd of August, after the end of armistice, the Hoffmann Family relocated from their pleasant house in suburbs into town. During next few days as battle raged, they experienced ongoing bombardments. As Hoffman later recounted, many people were killed by shells directly in front of him. After main battle concluded, he visited gory battlefield. His account appears in Vision auf dem Schlachtfeld bei Dresden. Historian David G. Chandler stated that owing to Battle of Dresden, legend of French invincibility had been fully re-established. Both city itself and surroundings presented picture of anxiety and devastation according to Bogdanovich's summary. Napoleon remained justifiably proud of his success despite coalition having almost double cavalry and artillery advantage. The battle took place around city of Dresden in modern-day Germany between 26th and the 27th of August 1813.
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Common questions
When did the Battle of Dresden take place?
The Battle of Dresden took place on the 26th and the 27th of August 1813. This engagement occurred in modern-day Germany during the War of the Sixth Coalition.
Who commanded the French forces at the Battle of Napoleon?
Napoleon commanded a field army of 442,810 men and 1,284 guns across 559 battalions and 395 squadrons. Marshal Saint-Cyr's corps fortified Dresden while Napoleon arrived from the north with Guard Infantry and Murat's Cavalry Corps.
What were the total casualties for Austria at the Battle of Dresden?
Total Austrian losses amounted to 16,300 men plus 22 guns. The Coalition lost some 38,000 men, 40 guns, and 15 colours during these two days of fighting.
How many troops did the Coalition have against Napoleon at the Battle of Dresden?
The opposing Coalition fielded 512,113 men in 556 battalions, 572 squadrons, 68 Cossack regiments, and 1,380 guns. Three monarchs including Alexander I of Russia, Francis I of Austria, and Frederick William III of Prussia assembled on an overlook of Dresden to discuss strategy.
When did Jean Victor Marie Moreau die after being wounded at the Battle of Dresden?
Jean Victor Marie Moreau died later on the 2nd of September in Louny after being mortally wounded in the battle. He had only recently returned from exile in the United States and was talking to the Tsar who wished to see Napoleon defeated.