Battle of Dennewitz

6 September 1813

Prelude:

Marshall Oudinot advanced his corp along 3 separate roads on an advance to Berlin. The fighting that took place on 23 August was essentially three isolated actions at Blankenfield, Großbeeren, and Sputendorf. In each case the Allies prevailed and Oudinot retreated to Wittenburg. At this point Napoleon appointed Marshall Ney to command.

The Battle of Dennewitz:

Marshal Ney renewed the advance on Berlin on 6 September, encountering Bernadotte at Dennewitz. While Oudinot has been criticized for advancing along three different routes, Ney was guilty of advancing his whole army along one road. Consequently, his army arrived and was deployed in a piecemeal fashion.

There was bad blood between the two marshals, brought about by Ney's appointment to overall command, but Ney was determined nothing would slow his rapid advance.

The speed of the march was not helped by poor reconnaissance and the French blundered straight into the waiting troops of their former colleague Marshal Bernadotte, now leading an Allied army.

Initially forced back, the Prussian elements of Bernadotte's army were reinforced by General Von Bulow and recovered the lost ground.

A see-sawing battle now developed, but just as the French appeared on the verge of a victory, Ney - not helped by a lack of support from Oudinot - made a mistake that swung the battle.

Having joined in the fighting personally and being unaware of the tactical situation on the sandstorm-hit battlefield, Ney ordered Oudinot to form a reserve. The pull back of Oudinot's forces was perceived as a retreat and the Allies redoubled the attack.

Under great pressure, the French were forced back. Swedish Crown Prince Bernadotte arrived with his army on the French left flank. The French forces already falling back under a heavy attack routed off the battlefield.

Aftermath:

The most significant result of Dennewitz was the political fall-out. Bavaria withdrew from the war and other German states began to consider the option.

The French suffered 10,000 casualties, while the Allies some 7000.

Sources Chandler: Swords around a throne. http://www.napoleonguide.com/battle_dennewit.htm http://www.napoleonicsociety.com/english/scholarship97/c_oudinot.html

Battle of Dennewitz

Order of Battle

Commander: Bulow

3 Korps: Hohenzollern 3rd Bde:Hessen-Homburg 3/3/1 Line/Gn 3/3/2 Resv / Hussars 3/3/3 Landwehr 4th Brigade: Thuemen 3/4/1 Line / Hussars 3/4/2 Resv 3/4/3 Resv / Dragoons 5th Brigade: Borstell 3/5/1 Line/Gn 3/5/2 Resv / Hussars 3/5/3 Landwehr / LWC 6th Brigade: Krafft 3/6/1 Line 3/6/2 Resv / Hussars 3/6/3 Landwehr Cavalry Reserve: Oppen 3/C1 Treskow (Dragoons) 3/C2 Malzahn (Landwehr) 3: 12-pdr Foot A 3: 12-pdr Foot B 3: 12-pdr Foot C (Russ) 3: 12-pdr Foot D (Russ) 3: 6-pdr Horse A 3: 6-pdr Horse B

4 Korps: Tauentzien 4/1 Resv 4/2 Landwehr 4/3 Silesn Landwehr 4/4 Landwehr 4/5 Landwehr 4: 6-pdr Horse A

Roster for the Army of Berlin (French)

Commander: Ney

IV corps: Bertrand 12th Division: Morand IV/12/1 Belair (legere) IV/12/2 Toussaint 15th Division (Italian): Fontanelli IV/15/1 StAndre IV/15/2 Moroni IV/15/3 Martel 38th Division (Wurt): Franquemont IV/38/1 Stockmayer IV/38/2 Spitzenberg IV/C1 (Wurt / Pol) IV/C2 Lorge (Chasseurs) IV: 12-pdr Foot A IV: 12-pdr Foot B IV: 6-pdr Horse A IV: 6-pdr Horse B IV: 6-pdr Horse C

VII Corps: Reynier 24th Division (Saxon): Lecoq VII/24/1 Brause (Gd, Lt) VII/24/2 Mellentin (Gn) 25th Division (Saxon): Sahr VII/25/1 Bosch (Gn, Lt) VII/25/2 Rissel 32nd Division: Durette VII/32/1 Devaux (legere) VII/32/2 Jarry (legere) VII/32/3 Lindenau (Wurz) VII/32/4 Zoltowski (Pol) VII/C1 (Saxon) Hussar,Lancers VII/C2 Defrance (Dragoon) VII: 12-pdr Foot A (Saxon) VII: 6-pdr Horse A (Saxon) VII: 6-pdr Horse B (Saxon)

XII Corps: Oudinot 13th Division: Pacthod XII/13/1 Bardet (legere) XII/13/2 Cacault 14th Division Guilleminot XII/14/1 Gruyer (legere) XII/14/2 Villeret 29th Division (Bavarian): Raglovich XII/29/1 Beckers XII/29/2 La Traille XII/C1 Wolff (West, Bav) XII/C2 Fournier (Chasseur,Hussar) XII: 12-pdr Foot A (Bav) XII: 12-pdr Foot B (Bav)

Source http://opusnet.com/jac4789/scenarios/dennewitz.htm