Battle of Vauchamps
On the 14th of February 1814, the Battle of Vauchamps marked the final major engagement of the Six Days Campaign. This conflict occurred within the War of the Sixth Coalition as armies of the French Empire scrambled to defend Eastern France against invading Coalition forces. Despite facing vastly superior numbers, Napoleon managed to score significant victories between the 10th and the 13th of February. He repeatedly beat Blücher's Army of Silesia during this short period. Field-marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher looked to disengage from Napoleon on the 13th of February. The Prussian commander intended to maneuver with part of his forces to attack Marshal Auguste de Marmont. Marmont was defending Napoleon's rear at Étoges when attacked late that evening. Blücher pushed back Marmont but failed to destroy the isolated corps. The Emperor read into his enemy's intentions and directed powerful forces to support him.
Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher commanded a combined Prusso-Russian force numbering between 20,000 and 21,500 men. His army included II Corps under General Friedrich Graf Kleist von Nollendorf and two Russian corps. The IX Corps contained 9th division under Udom II while X Corps fell under General Peter Mikhailovich Kaptzevich. Kleist's II Corps held 13,500 men while Kaptzevich's X Corps counted 6,500 troops. A rump of IX Corps lost 600 men and all its guns by the evening of the 14th of February. French forces assembled some 25,000 men in the sector though only 19,000 reached the battlefield in time. Just 10,000 soldiers engaged in actual fighting with Marmont's infantry and Grouchy's cavalry leading the charge. Marmont's two divisions mustered only 3,000 men while Jean François Leval's 7th Division comprised 4,500 soldiers. Cavalry units numbered 3,600 horsemen across I and II Cavalry Corps plus another 3,300 troopers from Guard cavalry divisions.
Blücher occupied Champaubert early on the 14th of February sending his vanguard forward to Fromentières and Vauchamps. Marshal Auguste de Marmont commanded only Lagrange division and 800 men from Ricard division when he pulled back toward Montmirail. Towards 9 o'clock in the morning Blücher set Zieten's brigade in motion from Vauchamps toward Montmirail. Marmont's men did not give ground this time but vigorously counterattacked pushing Zieten's advance guard back into Vauchamps. The accompanying Prussian cavalry dispersed under a violent French cannonade. With both brigades of Ricard's division available Marmont launched them against the Prussian position at Vauchamps. The 1st brigade advanced under cover of Beaumont forest south of the road while the 2nd brigade moved north of it. Marmont also deployed five squadrons to rescue infantry that had taken refuge in an isolated farm. Zieten decided to pull back his forces toward Fromentières where Generals Kleist and Kapsevitch joined him after hearing gun sounds. Further French reinforcements arrived with Leval moving up the valley of Petit Morin river to outflank the Prussians.
General Emmanuel de Grouchy led heavy cavalry divisions that exploited flat terrain to break Coalition infantry squares during the retreat. Once past Fromentières and Janvilliers the ground became even proper for cavalry action. Grouchy boldly menaced Zieten's right while Nansouty's Guard cavalry attacked on the left. Zieten's brigade finally cut off from the rest of the army charged violently by Grouchy's cuirassiers who broke infantry squares. They took no less than 2,000 prisoners while routing the rest of the brigade. Blücher ordered continuation of retreat toward Champaubert and Étoges with Kleist's Corps on the left and Kaptzevitch's Corps on the right. Grouchy advanced rapidly falling onto rear of slowly withdrawing Coalition infantry squares. The old Blücher exposed himself to great danger boosting morale before almost being taken prisoner along with chief of staff Gneisenau. Doumerc's cuirassiers formed unseen in night and surprised Russian General Udom's men at Étoges park. A single charge sent panicked men fleeing while Prince Urusov lost 600 men and eight artillery pieces captured.
The battle resulted in a very costly defeat for Blücher's Army of Silesia losing as much as 10,000 men during this day. French author Jean-Pierre Mir states Prussian Corps of Kleist had 3,500 men out of action plus 2,000 prisoners. The Russian Corps suffered around 3,500 men killed wounded or missing while also losing 15 cannons and 10 flags. Historian Alain Pigeard places overall losses between 9,000 and 10,000 men though detail suggests lighter casualties. Pigeard speaks of only 1,250 men killed wounded or missing for Prussians and 2,000 men lost for Russians. These figures likely occurred during pursuit rather than initial actions. The French registered very light casualties of around 600 men according to Pigeard. Military historian Jacques Garnier notes muddy sodden ground hampered efficient deployment of French artillery preventing a more emphatic victory. After Vauchamps Napoleon safely turned south to fall upon Army of Bohemia at Battle of Mormant commanded by Prince of Schwarzenberg.
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Common questions
When did the Battle of Vauchamps take place?
The Battle of Vauchamps took place on the 14th of February 1814. This engagement marked the final major battle of the Six Days Campaign within the War of the Sixth Coalition.
Who commanded the French forces at the Battle of Vauchamps?
Napoleon directed powerful forces to support Marshal Auguste de Marmont and General Emmanuel de Grouchy during the battle. Marmont commanded infantry divisions while Grouchy led heavy cavalry divisions that exploited flat terrain to break Coalition infantry squares.
How many men were in Blücher's Army of Silesia at the Battle of Vauchamps?
Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher commanded a combined Prusso-Russian force numbering between 20,000 and 21,500 men. His army included II Corps under General Friedrich Graf Kleist von Nollendorf and two Russian corps including X Corps under General Peter Mikhailovich Kaptzevich.
What were the casualties for Blücher's Army of Silesia at the Battle of Vauchamps?
Blücher lost as much as 10,000 men during this day according to historian Jean-Pierre Mir. Historian Alain Pigeard places overall losses between 9,000 and 10,000 men though detail suggests lighter casualties with only 1,250 men killed wounded or missing for Prussians and 2,000 men lost for Russians.
Where did the fighting occur during the Battle of Vauchamps?
The conflict occurred within Eastern France near Champaubert Fromentières and Vauchamps. French forces assembled some 25,000 men in the sector though only 19,000 reached the battlefield in time while Marmont defended Napoleon's rear at Étoges when attacked late that evening.