THE
CAMPAIGNS
OF
NAPOLEON
DAVID G. CHANDLER
VOLUME I
SCRIBNER
SCRIBNER
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
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Copyright © 1966 by David G. Chandler
Copyright © 1966 by Simon & Schuster
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
Maps and diagrams drawn by Shelia Waters from sketches prepared by the author.
Designed by Abe Lerner.
SCRIBNER and design are trademarks of Macmillan Library Reference USA, Inc. under license by Simon & Schuster, the publisher of this work.
Manufactured in the United States of America
30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication-Data
Chandler, David G
The campaigns of Napolean by David G. Chandler. xliii, 1172 p. illus., facsims., maps, (part col.), ports. 24 cm. Bibliography: p. 1143-1147
1. Napoléon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821. 2. Europe—History—1789-1815. 3. France—History, Military—1789-1815. I. Title.
DC151.C48 940.270924 66-12970
ISBN: 0-02-523660-1 MARC
ISBN: 978-0-0252-3660-8
eISBN: 978-1-4391-3103-9
This book is respectfully dedicated to the memory of HUBERT WYLIE (1894-1965)
Assistant Master, Marl borough College, 1927-1959
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
T
HE AUTHOR wishes to thank the following publishing houses for permission to quote passages from their books:
Cassell and Co., Ltd., London, for extracts from the Memoirs of Caulaincourt; The Clarendon Press, Oxford, for extracts from The French Army before Napoleon and The Rise of General Bonaparte, both by Spencer Wilkinson, and from The Armies of the First French Republic (5 vols.) by Colonel R. W. Phipps;
William Morrow and Co., Inc., New York, for extracts from With Napoleon in Russia, the American edition of Caulaincourt’s memoirs; Routledge and Kegan Paul, Ltd., London, for extracts from the works of A. Becke, An Introduction to the History of Tactics and Napoleon and Waterloo.
Acknowledgment is also due to the following museums and libraries for permission to reproduce illustrations and maps:
La Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris; the Trustees, the British Museum, London; Musée de l’Armée, Paris; the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich; Museu Militar, Lisbon; Museo del Prado, Madrid; the National Portrait Gallery, London; the Library, the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; Les Musées de la Ville de Strasbourg; Musée de Versailles; the Victoria and Albert Museum, London;
and the following companies for photographic and other assistance:
J. R. Freeman and Co., London; Marshalls, Ltd., Camberley; R. Viollet, Documentation Générale Photographique, Paris.
Contents
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
EXPLANATORY KEY TO MAPS
LIST OF MAPS
PREFACE
AUTHOR’S NOTE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
PART ONE. APPRENTICESHIP TO ARMS Napoleon’s military education and formative experiences prior to 1796
INTRODUCTION: FIRST EMERGENCE
1. PREPARATION
2. TOULON
3. BRIGADIER GENERAL OF ARTILLERY
4. THE “SWORD” OF PAUL BARRAS
PART TWO. IN SEARCH OF A REPUTATION The Campaign in North Italy, April 1796 to April 1797
5. COMMANDER IN CHIEF
6. THE DEFEAT OF PIEDMONT
7. THE BRIDGE OF LODI
8. THE ACHIEVEMENT IN PERIL—MANTUA
9. CALDIERO AND ARCOLA
10. RIVOLI
11. ADVANCE TO LEOBEN
12. THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS
PART THREE. NAPOLEON’S ART OF WAR A study of Napoleon’s philosophy of war, an analysis of his strategic and battle methods—and the sources of his ideas
INTRODUCTION: THE MASTER’S WORDS
13. DOCTRINAL INHERITANCE
14. THE INGREDIENTS OF NAPOLEONIC WAR
15. STRATEGIC CONCEPTS
16. GRAND TACTICS ON THE BATTLEFIELD
17. THE EMBRYONIC SYSTEM: CASTIGLIONE
PART FOUR. ORIENTAL INTERLUDE: THE SIX ACRES OF LAND The Campaign in Egypt and Syria, May 19, 1798 to October 9, 1799
INTRODUCTION: THE SANDS OF MARABOUT
18. ORIENTAL OPPORTUNITIES
19. MEDITERRANEAN CHASE
20. THE PYRAMIDS LOOK DOWN
21. EXPEDITION TO SYRIA
22. THE BALANCE SHEET OF FAILURE
PART FIVE. TOWARD THE SUMMIT: THE CONSPIRATOR AND PEACEMAKER The coup d’état of Brumaire and the Italian Campaign of 1800
23. THE RIPENED FRUIT
24. FIRST CONSUL
25. PLANS OF CAMPAIGN
26. THE PASSAGE OF THE ALPS
27. MARENGO
28. PEACE RESTORED
PART SIX. THE WORKS OF PEACE AND THE ROAD TO WAR Napoleon’s reconstruction of France and the renewed struggle with England to the formation of the Third Coalition. The creation of La Grande Armée
29. RULER AND LAWGIVER
30. THE CAMP OF BOULOGNE
31. PROSPECTS OF WIDER WAR
32. LA GRANDE ARMÉE
33. IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS
PART SEVEN. FROM THE RHINE TO THE DANUBE Napoleon’s destruction of the Third Coalition
INTRODUCTION: THE EVE OF AUSTERLITZ
34. PLANS AND PREPARATIONS
35. STRATEGIC TRIUMPH—ULM
36. THE WARRIORS OF HOLY RUSSIA
37. THE BATTLE OF THE THREE EMPERORS—AUSTERLITZ
38. THE INGREDIENTS OF SUCCESS
PART EIGHT. ROSSBACH AVENGED The Campaign of 1806 against Prussia
39. HOHENZOLLERN HYPOCRITE
40. PLANS FOR WAR
41. “LE BATAILLON CARRÉ”
42. JENA—AUERSTADT
43. THE TRIUMPH ANALYZED
PART NINE. WINTER WAR Napoleon’s Campaigns in East Prussia and Poland, October 1806 to February 1807
44. THE ADVANCE TO WARSAW
45. MEN AND MATERIEL
46. THE MANEUVER ON THE NAREW
47. INTERLUDE IN WARSAW
48. THE TRAP THAT FAILED—IONKOVO
49. THE BATTLE OF EYLAU
50. CONCLUSIONS: THE FIRST CHECK
VOLUME II
PART TEN. SPRING RECOVERY The renewed Campaign against Russia, culminating in the Battle of Friedland and the Treaty of Tilsit
51. RECONSTRUCTION
52. THE BATTLE OF HEILSBERG
53. THE BATTLE OF FRIEDLAND
54. THE MEETING OF THE EMPERORS
PART ELEVEN. PENINSULAR INTRIGUES The Campaigns in Portugal and Spain, 1807-1809
55. THE ROAD TO LISBON
56. AN ENGINEERED CRISIS
57. BAILEN AND VIMIERO
58. HARD BARGAINING AT ERFURT
59. IMPERIAL INTERVENTION
60. THE PURSUIT OF MOORE
61. INCOMPLETE ACHIEVEMENT
PART TWELVE. HAPSBURGS RESURGENT: THE LAST SUCCESS The Danube Campaign of 1809, culminating in the Battle of Wagram and the Peace of Schönbrunn
62. THE NEW CHALLENGE
63. CRISIS ON THE DANUBE
64. ASPERN-ESSLING
65. THE SECOND ATTEMPT: WAGRAM
66. THE ILLUSION OF SUCCESS
PART THIRTEEN. THE ROAD TO MOSCOW The first part of Napoleon’s Russian Campaign, June 22 to September 15, 1812
67. THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FRANCO-RUSSIAN ENTENTE
68. WAR PLANS AND PREPARATIONS
69
. THE INVASION OF RUSSIA
70. BORODINO
PART FOURTEEN. RETREAT The second part of Napoleon’s Russian Campaign, September 16, 1812 to January 1813
71. PRECARIOUS POSITION
72. COLLAPSE OF AN ARMY
73. THE BEREZINA
74. BACK TO THE ELBE
75. FAILURE OF A GIANT
PART FIFTEEN. TWILIGHT: THE STRUGGLE OF THE NATIONS Napoleon’s attempts to hold Germany and destroy the Allies, culminating in the heavy defeat sustained at the Battle of Leipzig
76. NEW ARMIES
77. LÜTZEN AND BAUTZEN
78. THE ARMISTICE
80. THE BATTLE OF THE NATIONS
81. BACK TO THE NATURAL FRONTIERS
PART SIXTEEN. “LA PATRIE EN DANGER” The Campaign of 1814, culminating in Napoleon’s abdication
82. PLAYING FOR TIME
83. A PARLOUS OPENING
84. RAPID RECOVERY
85. THE ECLIPSE OF SCHWARZENBERG
86. CHECK IN THE NORTH—LAON
87. THE LAST GAMBLE: ARCIS AND ABDICATION
PART SEVENTEEN. THE CAMPAIGN OF THE HUNDRED DAYS Napoleon’s return from exile and the events leading to his final abdication
INTRODUCTION: MEETING AT LE CAILLOU
88. RETURN OF THE EMPEROR
89. A POUNDING FOR BLÜCHER
90. THE ERRORS OF MARSHAL NEY
91. THE FINAL MOVES
92. WATERLOO
93. POSTSCRIPT
APPENDICES
A. ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF ITALY, APRIL 12, 1796
B. EXAMPLES OF NAPOLEON’S CHIEF Manoeuvres sur les Derrières
C. THE STRENGTH AND POSITIONS OF L’Armlée de Réserve,
JUNE 14, 1800
D. THE FORMATIONS OF La Grande Armée,
AUGUST 29, 1805
E. THE ORGANIZATION OF L’Armée d’Espagne
IN NOVEMBER 1808
F. THE FORMATIONS OF THE RE-FORMED Grande Armée
ON MARCH 30, 1809
G. ORGANIZATION OF La Grande Armée
FOR THE CAMPAIGN OF 1812
H. ORGANIZATION OF L’Armée du Nord
FOR THE CAMPAIGN OF 1815
I. SUMMARY OF SELECTED BATTLES
J. THE IMPERIAL NOBILITY
REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GLOSSARY OF MILITARY TERMS
INDEXES
Illustrations
General Bonaparte (c. 1797). Jacques Louis David
By courtesy of the Musée du Louvre, Paris
Napoleon in Prison as a Young Man (Fort d’Antibes, 1794). E. M. Ward
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London
The Empress Josephine in 1806. R. Lefévre
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
Austrian Generals Würmser and Alvintzi. E. Pape
Photograph by J. R. Freeman & Co., by courtesy of the Trustees, The British Museum, London
The Battle of the Bridge of Lodi. After C. Vernet
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
The Battle of Arcola. C. Vernet
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
The Battle of Rivoli. Philipotteaux
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
The Battle of the Pyramids. General Lejeune
By courtesy of Cliché des Musées Nationaux, Versailles
The Battle of Castiglione. After C. Vernet
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson and Commodore Sir William Sidney Smith. L. Guzzardi and J. Eckstein
By courtesy of The National Maritime Museum, London
The Rosetta Stone
By courtesy of the Trustees, The British Museum, London
The Battle of Marengo. General Lejeune
By courtesy of Cliche des Musées Nationaux, Versailles
The Right Honorable William Pitt. Gainsborough Dupont
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
A Project for a Descent upon England. Artist unknown
Photograph by Marshalls Ltd., Camberley
Pitt and Bonaparte share out the Globe. Gillray
Photograph by J. R. Freeman & Co., by courtesy of the Trustees, The British Museum, London
Soldier’s Release Certificate, 1809
Reproduced by permission of the owner. Brigadier P. Young
Photograph by courtesy of the Museo Militar, Lisbon
French 8-pounder field gun
Photograph by courtesy of the Commandant, The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Surrey
One of Napoleon’s famous cocked hats
Photograph by courtesy of the Musée d’Armée, Paris
The Emperor’s camp bed
Photograph by courtesy of the Musée d’Armée, Paris
The Unhappy General Mack. Artist unknown
By courtesy of the Le Mar chant Collection, R.M.A. Sandhurst Central Library
The Eve of Austerlitz. General Lejeune
By courtesy of Cliché des Musées Nationaux, Versailles
The Marshalate—the initial creation.
By various artists
King of Prussia, Frederick William III. W. Herbig
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley Rouse, London
Queen Louise, consort of King Frederick William III. Probably by Graff
Photograph by Marsh alls Ltd., Camberley
The Battle of Auerstadt. Gobaut
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
The Battle of Eylau. L. Flameng
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
VOLUME II
The Battle of Friedland. After Nodet
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
“The Family of Charles IV of Spain.” Goya
By courtesy of the Museo del Prado, Madrid
Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain. R. Lefévre
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
Pauline Bonaparte, Princess Borghese. R. Lefévre
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
“The Firing Party.” Goya
By courtesy of the Museo del Prado, Madrid
General Sir John Moore. Sir T. Lawrence
By courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London
South view of Corunna. Lee
Photograph by J. R. Freeman & Co., by courtesy of the Trustees, The British Museum, London
The Austrian Emperor, Francis I. A. Einsle
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
The passage of the Danube by the French Army, July 3, 1809. Fontaine
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
The Battle of Wagram. H. Vernet
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
The Marshalate—subsequent appointments. By various artists
Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Baron Gerard
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
The Emperor Napoleon I. R. Lefévre
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
General Prince Golenischev-Kutusov
Photograph by courtesy of the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris
The Battle of Borodino. Lejeune
By courtesy of Cliché des Musées Nationaux, Versailles
The Battle of Smolensk. Victor Hugo
Photograph by R. Viollet, Paris
Napoleon’s opponents. By various artists
Photographs by J. R. Freeman & Co., by courtesy of the Trustees, The British Museum, London
The Crossing of the Berezina. Artist unknown
By courtesy of the Musée d’Armée, Paris
Field Marshal Prince von Blücher. C. Dawe
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
Four fa
csimiles of Napoleon’s signature
By courtesy of the Musée d’Armée, Paris and the Trustees, The British Museum, London
Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington. Goya
Photograph by courtesy of the Trustees, The British Museum, London
The Battle of Waterloo. F. Philipotteaux
By courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum and Apsley House, London
Maps Battle, Campaign and Tactical Diagrams
The siege of Toulon, 1793
A contemporary map of Toulon, showing its defenses
Photograph by J. R. Freeman & Co., by courtesy of the Trustees, the British Museum, London