Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 146

Two days before the great battle that would decide Europe’s fate. To borrow the expression of the nobles, there were two ‘eve festivities’ before that. The center of the front was naturally moved to the northeast as the Coalition and the Union forces gathered around the Orime wetland.

This meant that the Coalition that had been struggling to crush Poland could not project its power there again easily. The pressure of the Coalition on Poland had weakened noticeably. It had no reason to deploy its main corps there.

Napoleon sent a letter to Warsaw to call in the Polish garrison, which, of course, was not ignored by the Coalition’s members.

A Russian-Swedish allied army from Minsk blocked the advance of the Polish troops. Battles broke out between the two armies in the town of Shedorov, on the border between Poland and Russia.

Alexander Tormasov, the commander of the Russian-Swedish allied forces, was clearly a competent general. Unfortunately, however, today’s match was not good for him.

Karl Ludwig, Jozef I, Gabriel Suchet, Etienne Macdonald… Each of them could leave its name in the history of European war as one of the greatest war masters. A multinational force armed with more talented people would rarely appear in future history.

“Austria and Prussia have so far responded jointly with Napoleon, who has the ambition to conquer the continent, The Archduke of Austria (Karl Ludwig) has to be a good judge of the market. Think about the moderate diplomacy shown by Prince Wenzel (Metternich).”

Clausewitz sent a letter to Karl Ludwig, who had the greatest influence in the Polish garrison, in an effort to buy even a little time.

However, Archduke Karl, Austria’s greatest master, did not blink, but rather raised the army’s mobility with confidence that the enemy was not ready. It was the only commander in Austria who had defeated Napoleon with intuition and judgment,

The Polish garrison consisted of Austrians, Poles, and some French troops who had been sent to Warsaw, which Karl Ludwig made full use of.

France and Austria were now cooperating on the same side, but they had been fierce enemies until 10 years ago. The feelings between the soldiers could not be good and they had their own sense of competition.

Poland also felt the need to impress the international community as it had just regained its country. All three countries were bound to have different attitudes in combat.

Karl did not argue with the generals of Poland and France over the leadership of the army, but divided the military system by country and decided on the battlefield zone. The three countries had created a structure in which their armies were competing. And the effect was tremendous.

“I will never forgive you for falling behind the Austrians!”

“We’ll take that hill first! Before the French!”

“Poles! Stick a bayonet firmly in the belly of the Slavic pigs that oppressed us!”

The officers of the three countries deliberately provoked the soldiers in this way. Encouraged by their fighting spirit, the Union soldiers crushed the enemies in front of them with incredible fighting power.

Even though it was the Russian-Swedish army that had an advantage first, it could not prevent the Austrian-Polish-French army from competing about ‘who would destroy them first’.

Eventually, the defensive blockade was broken through and the Russian-Swedish army was defeated. This was an event that made Alexander I and Friedrich Wilhelm III jump on the spot as they were preparing for a battle against Napoleon.

Incidentally, on the same day, there was another battle at a similar time. According to the expressions of the nobles, it was a ‘fight of knights’, which was said to be a relic of the old times.

As the war clouds rose over the Orime wetland, the two armies’ command ordered a search battle with cavalry to identify the enemy’s units and types of troops, artillery bases, and supply routes. It was Joachim Murat, King of Naples, who came forward from the Union side.

Murat, who had marked the end of the entire Battle of Leipzig with a fierce cavalry charge, received all kinds of attention and praise through various media. Thanks to this, his confidence was now sky-high.

Murat led cavalry from France, Naples, and Saxony to search right near the enemy camp. He openly taunted and provoked the Coalition artillery near its limit range.

“Those guys are so arrogant because they won a battle! There is a limit to looking down on us!”

Alexander I, who was properly angered by this, responded by sending a regiment of cuirassier cavalry from the Guards, which he loved in the Cossack Cavalry Division.

A battle was fought between the cavalry, using only bladed weapons, with no other types of troops, not even a regiment of dragoons using guns.

Murat and the Union cavalry fought valiantly. The kingdoms of Saxony and Wurttemberg were famous for their high-quality cavalry, and it went without saying for France, But like Tormasov, who encountered Archduke Karl, Murat also did not find a good match this time.

“God, protect the Tsar and the Empire!”

“Long live the great Slavic Empire!”

The Russian Guards were really tough. Geniuses of equestrian combat with first-class horsemanship and swordsmanship charged like fanatics, believing in the cuirasses protecting their backs and chests.

Was this the power of the knights who charged in plate armor during the Crusades? Although Murat’s cavalry were well armed, they were essentially scouts and most of them were light cavalry. For them, the Russian Guards were a tough opponent.

“The only troops in the Union that can deal with them are the Polish Lancers or the French Imperial Guards! Unfortunately, neither of them are here! Let’s retreat! Come on!”

At the urging of the Saxon cavalry captain, Murat was forced to order the retreat. However, Alexander I dispatched Cossack cavalry as well because he knew this would happen, The Cossacks were weak in a head-to-head fight, but there was no one like them when chasing fleeing enemies.

Under the pursuit of the Cossacks, like hyenas chasing their prey, the Union horsemen fell one by one and were either killed or captured. Murat, who had been full of confidence in his scouting movements and provocations, had to run away quickly.

After he returned to the headquarters, Napoleon said about him ‘I sent him to scout, and he came back like a novice matador. And with the bonus that he was very good at lowering the morale of the soldiers.’

In any case, these two ‘eve festivities’ highlighted the tension and struggle between the two armies over the Orime wetland. In the battle that confirmed the northward movement of the enemy reinforcements, the Coalition command realized that the battle was inevitable, and Napoleon did not avoid it.

That was how the Battle of Orime, the most decisive battle of the Great War that symbolized the beginning of a new era, began. A short month of peace. It was just a dye to infuse brutality into the ensuing storms.

The battle began. The battlefield, where 500,000 men clashed between the two sides, was bigger than the entire Leipzig area, and would determine the success or failure of the Great War. In the midst of heavy artillery bombardment from both sides, the countless armies filling the wetlands and fields were truly gathering all European talents. And such talents were separated countless of times while ignoring death.

Even though the shells containing tremendous destructive power were sweeping the soldiers like bowling pins on the field, no one stopped marching toward the enemy camp.

French infantry regiments, led directly by Louis Nicolas Davout, were breaking through the wetlands, bearing the artillery fire of the Coalition, with hearts of iron, just like their commander’s nickname (the Iron Marshal).

Napoleon, who was watching the scene through a telescope at the command center of the rear hill, recalled the conversation he had with Davout.

‘Your Majesty! Please leave this task to me!’

‘You are a Marshal of the Empire, the commander of the First Corps of the Union Army, and the military adviser to the European Union. Anyone in that position should know how to put away unnecessary courage.’

‘I have fought and won in this way in Marengo, Austerlitz, Auerstaedt. Whatever my rank or position, I will bleed again with the soldiers on the battlefield.1

‘Your Majesty, please plan a strategy for victory in a safe place! All the dangers of the battlefield will be taken care of by the marshals and generals!1

The Iron Marshal was ready to die in battle today. That strong and hot will could be perceived through his skin. Napoleon could not stop him.

Just hoping for France to be safe, he was willing to burn his body and soul. Davout’s regiment advanced deep into the enemy camp through a torrent of artillery fire.

Waiting for them were the Swedish Fusiliers (light infantry) hiding in trenches,

“To hell with the French bastards! All fire!”

Tatatatatatata-H

The Swedish Fusiliers were not as good as the British Riflemen, but they were special forces with very good shooting skills. The French soldiers, exposed to their flames, collapsed bloodily.

There was no victory without sacrifice in the battle of this era. For Napoleon and France to enjoy the glory of victory, someone had to support them underneath, losing their bodies and souls.

Davout and his men were willing to lay the groundwork for the victory of the Great War and the glory of France.

‘I will never forget your sacrifice until the day I die.’

Despite the firepower of the Swedish Fusiliers, the bravery of Davout’s regiment was not dampened. Davout’s solid command, the cooperation of competent officers, and the soldiers burning with patriotism eventually succeeded in breaking through the fire, and approached right in front of the trenches where the Fusiliers were hiding,

“Charge!!”

“Woaaaaahh!!”

As if they had not expected a bayonet charge immediately without firing a shot, the Swedish army was surprised, and Davout led the valiant charge with his soldiers.

The Marshal of the Empire was walking shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers, no matter the outcome of the fight, With that alone, Davout’s regiment was able to increase its morale and determination like crazy.

The Swedish army, which had resisted through trenches and cover, eventually collapsed because it could not stop the French from advancing. Napoleon nodded firmly. As expected from Davout.

“Now the problem is them.”

Just as Louis Nicolas Davout took lead of the Union advance and pierced the front line, the Coalition also had a shock force ready to make a hole in this side of the line.

The Finnish grenadiers were perfect for such a shock force. They were brave and strong, natives of Northern Europe, and were fighting under Russia. Napoleon assigned a separate unit to stop them.

Bam bam bam! Bam bam!

Red coats appeared from the Union side. Of course they were not British troops. It was the army of the only country that was also dressed in red like Britain. It was the soldiers of the Swiss Republic who remained unshakable and disciplined despite the strong Finnish grenadiers advancing through the shelling.

Switzerland was a subordinate ally of France, but its army was more like mercenaries. Instead of being excluded from the spoils and diplomatic and economic distribution of war victories, they were fighting on Napoleon’s side for a large salary.

The battle also showed the dignity and professionalism of the nation’s military, which had maintained a centuries-old history of mercenaries.

Tatata! Tatata! Tatata!

The shooting of Swiss Republic gunmen was a little unusual. Ordinary line infantrymen built a long line and fired simultaneously at the officer’s command.

Of course, it was to increase the destructive power of shooting, but there was also a disadvantage, which was the ‘waste’ of multiple bullets hitting one target that occurred frequently.

To correct this point, Switzerland perfected the tactic of firing sequentially with a battalion or regiment divided into three battalions. Unlike ordinary sequential shots, the interval between the first, second, and third shots was very short, within 1 to 2 seconds.

After the first shooting, enemy soldiers hit by bullets fell within one to two seconds, and if other enemy soldiers filled the empty space, they could immediately fire a second shot and cause damage again. In other words, it is a shooting technique that maximizes the destructive power of a volley while reducing the waste of bullets and firepower.

‘If it was the 18th century, we probably wouldn’t have implemented that tactic. However, the development of firearms and gunpowder has created a new trend, and this speed will be faster in the future.’

Napoleon was able to realize that the more advanced the weapons and technology, the more he had to have tactics that suiting them. Anyway, the result of innovation and new ideas was truly devastating. The Finnish soldiers were knocked down by the three consecutive shots.

The atmosphere quickly heated up. The brave Finns who walked were visibly agitated, as if they were not afraid of death. After the second series of shots, the crack grew out of control, and the control of Russian officers was not working.

“Charge!! For the victory of the Union!”

The Swiss army also showed its true value in hand-to-hand battle. They were not pushed at all by the Finns who were much larger in stature.

On the contrary, they took advantage of the hole in the middle of the line and pushed hard to take the lead. After a fierce fight, the Swiss army drove out the Finnish grenadiers. They were also excellent soldiers worth high prices,

‘They remind me of the Republican Army of the world I’m supposed to be in,’

Maybe he would never be able to go back. Napoleon put down his telescope, hiding his bitter feelings. The troops commanded by Davout broke through the Coalition lines, and placed the batteries within range.

However, the Coalition forces blocked by this front only lost their face. Battle was, after all, a battle of morale among the bottom soldiers. For the sake of the soldiers’ war, they had to make a decision.

“Well, it would be better to get the hidden number out as soon as possible.”

Napoleon sent a letter of congratulations to the commander of the Swiss army. In the battlefield of Orime, where hundreds of thousands of troops and numerous armies, divisions, and brigades were fighting simultaneously, Napoleon decided to stand at the center and to become the responder.

Wait for the enemy’s movement. And with the most effective response to it, neutralize it and win the fight. Napoleon had never lost a battle like this.