Napoleon's Disastrous Russian Campaign
One historian has summed up Napoleon’s military campaign in Russia in 1812 with these words: “The problems of space, time, and distance proved too great for even one of the greatest military minds that ever existed.” Napoleon made several serious miscalculations. First, he never expected that he would have to travel all the way to Moscow. He was used to defeating an enemy after only one or two battles and then having the enemy ask for peace. Napoleon expected to defeat the Russians far short of Moscow.
He also gravely miscalculated the problems of feeding, equipping, and moving 422,000 troops in Russia. The roads were terrible, and supplies were often delayed weeks or even months. Normally Napoleon could count on taking grain and livestock from local farmers to extend his food supply. To prevent this, the Russians themselves destroyed what little they had – through the tactic of scorched earth.
As a result of these miscalculations, Napoleon and his army were already deeply in trouble by the time they reached Smolensk in August, two months after starting out. Their supply lines were overextended, and the size of the army had been reduced by fighting along the way. At this point, Napoleon made a critical decision. Because the Russians would not fight a major battle, he would simply press on and capture Moscow and bring them to their knees. The Russians gave Napoleon his long-awaited fight 70 miles west of Moscow, on the field of Borodino. It was a bloodbath for both sides, but it was indecisive. One week later, Napoleon entered Moscow.
Napoleon expected the Russians to ask for peace terms, but they did not. Moreover, the Russians had destroyed Moscow as they withdrew. As a result, the French troops could not find housing. The Russians hoped that eventually Napoleon would be defeated by the bitter cold of the Russian winter. The first frost and snow were only two weeks away when Napoleon finally decided to lead his army back to France.
On October 24 the Russians attacked the retreating French as they tried to cross the Lusha River at Maloyaroslavets. The French won the battle, but at a cost of 7 generals and 4,000 men. On November 9 the French reached Smolensk once again. The temperature plunged to 12ºF, and Napoleon’s food supplies were low. Still the French pressed on, through heavy snow, in a line that stretched for 50 miles. Meanwhile the Russians repeatedly attacked the retreating French. By November 25 the French had reached the Berezina River near Borisov. Here the Russians had knocked down the bridges and fortified the river banks. Napoleon’s forces quickly threw up two new bridges, but in their panic to cross the river, thousands died in the freezing waters. In early December Napoleon left his troops and set out by carriage for Paris. The remnants of his “Grand Army” straggled after him.
Discussion Review (not to be turned in):
1. What natural barriers did the French have to traverse? How did the Russians make use of these barriers?
2. How many miles was the “Grand Army’s” round trip to Moscow and back?
3. Explain why Napoleon failed in Russia because of “space, time, and distance.”
From http://teacherweb.ftl.pinecrest.edu/snyderd/MWH/readings/2/2NapRetreat.htm
Battle of Leipzig
October 16-19, 1813
One of the most crucial battles of the Napoleonic Wars was the massive clash that took place at Leipzig, which became known as the Battle of Nations because of its size and the sheer numbers of troops that took part.
The army of France was set to take on those of Sweden, Russia, Austria and Prussia (referred to as Allies in the reading) - in all some 200,000 Frenchmen, against almost 400,000 enemy troops.
The number of cannons involved was also astounding withNapoleon Bonapartehaving 700 at his disposal and the Allies up to 1500.
Aside from the numbers against him, Bonaparte was also faced with the fact that the enemy armies were approaching from different directions, forcing him to spread his forces.
The first attack occurred on the 16th when Austria's General Schwarzenberg launched a badly thought out move against the French to the south of Leipzig.
Good defense stopped it and a swift counterattack pushed the Austrians back to their starting positions.
To the north, Prussia'sMarshal Blucheralso moved against the city but with little progress against the tough defense of the French troops.
Both sides spent the next day recovering from their exertions, but the delay helped the Allied cause because it allowed Sweden'sJean-Baptiste Bernadotteand the Russians under General Bennigsen to move in from the north-east and north.
On the 18th, the Allied commanders managed to coordinate their attacks and more than 350,000 men simultaneously moved against the French.
Considering the odds facing them, the French performed wonders and held the attackers at bay for more than nine hours.
However, in the end the sheer weight of guns and bayonets against them took their toll and Bonaparte began an orderly withdrawal through the city and across a single escape bridge.
Had it not been for the premature blowing of the span the retreat may have been of a textbook nature but, following the blast, 20,000 men were trapped.
Many chose to try to swim to avoid capture, but this resulted in many deaths, including that of the woundedMarshal Poniatowski.
Bonaparte was now on the ropes and his enemies finally knew it. After his defeat at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813, Napoleon retreated to Paris where (due to a lack of support from his military marshals) he was forced to renounce his throne in April 1814. The European powers exiled him to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean.
Within eleven months, however, Napoleon was back on the European continent at the head of a hastily-raised army intent on restoring Napoleon to the throne of France.
Battle of Waterloo And Exile… Again
After his defeat at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813, Napoleon retreated to Paris where (due to a lack of support from his military marshals) he was forced to renounce his throne in April 1814. The European powers exiled him to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean. Within eleven months, however, Napoleon was back on the European continent at the head of a hastily-raised army intent on restoring Napoleon to the throne of France. Napoleon's defeat came in June 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo. This time, the European powers were not going to take any chances on Napoleon's possible return. They exiled him to the island of St. Helena - a barren, wind-swept rock located in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The Fall of an Emperor
Among the small entourage that accompanied the ex Emperor into exile was the Comte de Las Cases who kept a diary of his experience:
"August 10
This day we cleared the Channel. We had now entered upon the dreary unknown course to which fate had doomed us. Again my agonies were renewed; again the dear connections I had abandoned resumed their sway over my heart… Meanwhile we advanced in our course and were soon to be out of Europe. Thus, in less than six weeks, had the emperor abdicated his throne and placed himself in the hands of the English, who were now hurrying him to a barren rock in the midst of a vast ocean. This is certainly no ordinary instance of the chances of fortune, and no common trial of firmness of mind.
October 23-24
The Emperor Napoleon, who lately possessed such boundless power and defeated so many rulers, now occupies a wretched house, a few feet square, which is perched upon a rock, unprovided with furniture, and without either shutters or curtains to the windows. This place must serve him for bedchamber, dressing room, dining room, study, and sitting room; and he is obliged to go out when it is necessary to have this one apartment cleaned. His meals, consisting of a few wretched dishes, are brought to him from a distance, as though he were a criminal in a dungeon. He is absolutely in want of the necessaries of life: the bread and wine are not only not such as he has been accustomed to, but are so bad that we loathe to touch them; water, coffee, butter, oil, and other articles are either not to be procured or are scarcely fit for use…
Quote by Napoleon talking to the men guarding him:
We were all assembled around the emperor, and he was summarizing these facts with warmth: 'For what infamous treatment are we reserved!' he exclaimed. This is the anguish of death. To injustice and violence they now add insult and delayed torment. If I were so hateful to them, why did they not get rid of me? A few musket balls in my heart or my head would have done the business, and there would at least have been some energy in the crime. Were it not for you, and above all for your wives, I would receive nothing from them but the pay of a private soldier. How can the monarchs of Europe permit the sacred character of sovereignty to be violated in my person? Do they not see that they are, with their own hands, working their own destruction at St. Helena?'
'I entered their capitals victorious and, had I cherished such sentiments, what would have become of them? They styled me their brother, and I had become so by the choice of the people, the sanction of victory, the character of religion, and the alliances of their policy and their blood. Do they imagine that the good sense of nations is blind to their conduct? And what do they expect from it? At all events, make your complaints, gentlemen; let indignant Europe hear them. Complaints from me would be beneath my dignity and character; I must either command or be silent.'"
Napoleon dies on St. Helena Island on May 5, 1821.
Think about how Napoleon was feeling during his imprisonment on St. Helena Island.
From http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/napoleon.htm