Part 1: Introduction

The losses of the terrible expedition to Russia had reduced Napoleon's force of light troops and cavalry very much, and consequently in this campaign he had to move with great caution, not being able to feel for his enemy as he advanced.

On the 1st of May, 1813, in crossing the defile of Grunebach, near Leutzen, he encountered the Allies strongly posted, with six guns, on the heights of Poserna, to bar the great road which leads from Weissenfels to Leutzen and Leipzig.

Being without due means of observation, the French infantry were moved forward in squares, just as in our day, it has been found necessary to move our forces in South Africa and the Soudan. Such a formation naturally led to heavy losses from the guns on the opposite heights, Bessieres was killed as he rode forward to try and reconnoitre the enemy's position, and 300 men fell without any advantage having been gained over the foe. While matters were at this crisis twenty guns of the Guard were sent for, and under their fire the squares were once more able to push forward.

As they came on, supported by the guns, the enemy gave way before them, and left the path to the plain of Leutzen clear. The French thus succeeded in occupying Leutzen and pushed on the next day towards Leipzig. It was on this very ground that, in 1632, Gustavus Adolphus had received his death wound in his victorious battle with the Imperialists, and the associations connected which the famous battlefield could not fail to rouse a special and romantic interest in the minds both of officers and men.

Meanwhile the Allies had determined to try and turn the French right and cut them off if possible from the Saale.

Thus both armies divided into columns, for facilities in marching, stumbled upon one another, and soon came into collision. The Allies, preceded by a strong artillery, and coming on in superior numbers struck the corps on the right of their opponents under Ney, at the village of Gross Gurschen. The French infantry were pounded by the great mass of guns which preceded the advance of their opponents, and although they offered a most obstinate resistance, were driven from the village, and also from Klein Gurschen, and Rahna which they also vainly endeavoured to hold.

Clearly his enemies were learning in constant defeat the secrets which underlay many of their conqueror's successes. Urgent messages for help were sent to the Emperor; who at once called the columns of MacDonald and of his son-in-law, the viceroy who, however, with a soldier's instinct had anticipated the order to the threatened point, while Marmont and Bertrand were also urged to move in the direction of the fighting, towards which he himself also hurried immediately.

But Ney had brought up reinforcements in the mean time, and had driven the Prussians from the villages, almost back to their former positions. Not, however, for long, for their second line was now led up to the aid of the first, and not only drove the French columns once again before them, but, the allied reserve following up their success, Kaia, the key of their right was speedily captured and set on fire.

It was now 6 o'clock, and the French right had been driven back a mile-and-a-half and was more or less disorganised. Victory, seemed within reach of the Allies, and their splendid force of cavalry prepared to sweep over the plain round the rear of their enemy, who had no adequate force of the arm with which to oppose them. Napoleon exposing himself in the most courageous manner, as he had done at Wagram, hastened to the menaced point, and made the most energetic personal efforts to retrieve the day. He collected the remnant of Ney's corps behind the burning village, reinforced them with the division of Ricard, and launched them on a fresh attack. Reanimated by his presence, the French infantry succeeded in pressing their opponents back to Klein Gurschen, but then the combat surged indecisively to and fro, both sides lost enormously, but neither would give way.

Time, however, which was what Napoleon chiefly needed, had been gained. While the fight raged between Kaia and Klein Gurschen, the other French corps were creeping nearer, and the formidable Imperial Guard was being massed behind the hills of Kaia by the Emperor for a decisive blow. Soon seventy thousand French were pressing the Allies, who had only forty thousand with which to oppose them.

As a last effort Wittgenstein called the artillery of Winzingerode to his aid, and placed them so as to take the enemy in flank as they came on between the villages. Guns, thus opportunely thrown into the scale, could only relieve the pressure, and in truth the allies gathered heart with their support, and once more drove the French out of Klein Gurschen, and from round Kaia back to where Napoleon was mustering his Guards.

The Emperor saw that the moment for him to make his great effort was now ripe, and his blow fell as it had fallen at Wagram. Sixty guns of the incomparable artillery of the Guard were formed into a great battery under Druot, and were sent forward to prepare the way. Then when their fire, which was served with a rapidity and precision such as their opponents could not match, had produced an effect, sixteen battalions of the young guard moved to the attack, and the whole of the reserve cavalry, cherished carefully during the day with this object in view, supported the movement.

The reserve as the great column swept on, the guns, manoeuvred with splendid skill, kept ahead of it, and their fire was irresistible. Kaia was soon passed, but round Klein Gurschen the fight remained again stationary. The effort of the Allies, however, had been in vain. They were beaten back, if not routed at the decisive point, and as night closed in they could not but realise that they had failed. Napoleon's favourite manoeuvre had once more been successful, and the result was due principally to the manner in which, at the supreme moment, his guns dominated the fight at the spot where his effort was centred, and the honours of the day were with Druot, as at Friedland they had been with Senarmont.

The next morning the Allies felt unequal to renewing the struggle and retreated. [2]

More Achievements of Field Artillery Part II

Introduction
Leutzen
Bautzen
Gross Beeren
Dresden
Hanau