Defense of Danzig 1813

Summer Activity

by A. Ricciardiello, Poland

With the summer many of the sick had recovered, reinforcing the ranks, and thus easing the burden on the advance posts who were always squabbling with their foe. However, in these weeks between Heudelet's sortie and the 9th June, much of the records (according to my source) lack detail of actions that took place around the advance posts, which were frequent.

One of the stimulants to the increased enemy action was the ripening of the rye crop. The besiegers put pressure on the garrison by appearing in the most innocuous places, thereby obliging them to deploy as much as possible and as often as possible in reinforced numbers. Half the cavalry was permanently saddled all day long and 25 guns were always timbered up. Virtually, the whole garrison was in a state of constant readiness.

Several attacks took place on Schidlitz and Stolzenberg in early June which didn't result in any gain for anyone. But on the 7th two Russian veterans were captured. Brought before Rapp they were asked why a serious assault had not been launched, and they limited themselves to minor scuffles. Their reply was because many Prussian conscripts had arrived and the generals wanted them to get used to being under fire before meeting the garrison proper. They also informed Rapp of Napoleon's victories of Lutzen and Bautzen

Reacting spontaneously to this news Rapp decided on a sortie for the morning of the 9th The aim was to rattle the Prussian conscripts but also to try and take forage and horses from the allies. In three columns he attacked across the line, Lang Fuhr, Pitzkendorf, Ohra. All along the front the enemy, retired, who were in fact mostly Russian. At about 3pm the enemy started to turn to the offensive. In turn Rapp ordered a withdrawal in which the Neapolitan regiments acted as a rearguard to some of the columns for over 3 hours taking, significant losses.

Two days later on the 11th news reached Rapp from the Emperor of the armistice. The fortress was to be provisioned every 5 days and they were to hold a belt all around the cities of I league in radius. Whilst this was fine for the outer forts, for Danzig it was threatening. Up until this point the exertions of the garrison were to precisely keep the enemy at arms length from the city, which they, had so far succeeded in doing admirably. In fact before the armistice was to end (24.8.13) Rapp frequently and very seriously, considered resuming hostilities, exactly because of this 1 league belt.

Lieutenant Planat who brought the news of the armistice also brought 100 crosses of the Legion of honour. His main job however was to report on all he saw in and outside of Danzig.

An ADC to Drouot, he left Neumark on 6th June with Colonel Wollzogen, ADC to Emperor Alexander. He was to introduce Planat to Wurtemburg, the besiegers' commander. Planat reached Wurtemberg's general quarters on the 10th. He then told Rapp the following day everything he saw. Apparently Planat was a good choice for the job, because although nothing was committed to paper, the authors of this book report how clear and precise Planat's report on the whole mission was.

Planat stayed 7 days in Danzig, and reports on his return how well ordered the city was, and that in term of arms and ammunition there was nothing to be desired. The spirit of the men was high, they were ready to do their duty. Rapp took the opportunity, to inform the Emperor of the general conditions too. Here he wrote mostly of the past situation and the men were devoted but fatigued due to the extension of operations, and of course the losses suffered.

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