below that of Lindenau, he was met by the rebuff that he should mind his own business, and leave to the Emperor the general care of the army. Napoleon's conduct in this particular is so unaccountable, that one is almost inclined to ascribe it to judicial blindness.* CHAP. XI. 1813. 47. Commencement of the On the other side, the Emperor of Russia, attended by Lord Cathcart, Sir George Cathcart, Sir Robert Wilson, and his whole staff, was on horseback at daybreak, ment and rode to the plain around Gossa, where he was met by the King of Prussia and his suite. The opposing sovereigns were now directly opposite to each other, separated at first by about three miles. At nine o'clock, as the guns of Blucher and the Crown Prince were heard from the north, the columns of Schwartzenberg began to move. They had a considerable distance to march before they encountered any serious opposition, the tirailleurs of the French retreating as the heavy columns of the Allies approached them. About ten, however, they came in sight of the steady lines and imposing columns which, extending from Dolitz through Probstheyda to Stötteritz, presented an apparently impenetrable barrier. Not less magnificent was the approach of the Allied army. "Indescribably awful was the spectacle which their advance afforded to the agitated multitude which thronged the steeples of Leipsic. As far as the eye could reach, the ground was covered by an innumerable multitude of men and horses, long deep masses marked the march of the infantry, dazzling lines of light darted from the helmets of the cavalry; the glancing of the bayonets in the rays * "Le colonel du génie Montfort, qui remplaçait le Général Rogniat parti pour Weissenfels, avait été extrêmement frappé de la difficulté de faire défiler toute l'armée par un seul pont d'une immense longueur, celui qui va de Leipsic à Lindenau. Il avait donc proposé au Prince Berthier de jeter, au-dessus ou au-dessous, d'autres ponts secondaires, qui serviraient au passage de l'infanterie, afin de réserver la chaussée principale à l'artillerie, à la cavalerie, aux bagages. Soit que Berthier, tout plein encore de la peine qu'on avait eue à parler de retraite à Napoléon, n'osât pas lui en parler de nouveau, soit (ce qui est plus probable), qu'il eût l'habitude invétérée d'attendre tout de sa prévoyance, il repoussa le colonel, en lui disant qu'il fallait savoir exécuter les ordres de l'Empereur, mais n'avoir pas la prétention de les devancer."-THIERS, xvi. 595. CHAP. of the sun sparkled like the crests of foam on a troubled ocean, while a confused murmur from their ranks, and the 1813. rolling of a thousand guns, sounded like the roar of a distant cataract." But as the enemy drew nigh these appearances changed; the quick rattle of the light troops 1 Odel. 74, engaged in front on both sides was interrupted at inter75; Fain, vals by the heavy booming of cannon; and as the Allied Bout. 130; columns approached nearer the whole plain became enveloped in smoke, and one incessant roar, succeeding to the single reports, was heard from every part of the field.1 ii. 418-420; Plotho, ii. 402. 48. the Allies on Dolitz. The Allied left, under Prince Hesse Homburg, first Success of came into action as it advanced on the right bank of the their left at Pleisse towards Dösen and Dolitz. Bianchi led the first line, Weissenwolf the second, and they were stoutly opposed by Augereau and Poniatowski, the latter of whom, as the just reward of his distinguished valour, had been made a marshal of France on the preceding day by Napoleon. Both these villages were carried after an hour's hard fighting by the Austrians; but at Dösen Prince Hesse Homburg received a wound which obliged him to leave the field, and he was succeeded by Bianchi in the command. A large body of Kellermann's cavalry was despatched by Napoleon from his central position on the Thonberg, which at first had some success; but Colloredo coming up with the Austrian reserve restored the combat; and the Allies, pursuing their advantage, gained a mile of ground, penetrating to Connewitz, abreast of the Emperor's position on the Thonberg, and threatening to drive back the French right to the very gates of Leipsic. Seriously alarmed at this advance, Napoleon sent a division of the Guard, with some of its artillery, under Oudinot, which took the Austrians in flank, while, at the same time, 419, 420; Poniatowski and Augereau, having rallied and established Bout 10 themselves in some strong ground behind a streamlet near 600; Cath. Cappelle, opposed a fierce resistance. As Bianchi had the French Guard close upon his right flank, he saw that any farther advance would be hazardous, and, satisfied 2 Fain, ii. 131; Thiers, xvi. 599, 329, 330. with the advantage he had gained, established himself in front of Connewitz, where he remained during the remainder of the day. CHAP. XI. 1813. 49. attack on da. By this retreat of the right wing of the French, Probstheyda became the head of a salient angle, which pro- Desperate jected as it were into the centre of the field of battle. ProbstheyBetween that and Stötteritz, a distance of about a mile, was the decisive point, and it was there that the main efforts of the Allies were directed. The ground, however, was extremely strong; for each of these villages was amply provided with artillery, which swept by a cross fire the whole intervening space; and between the two was placed a long line of guns, with strong masses of infantry and cavalry between their interstices, which seemed to bid defiance to any attack, however formidable. Immediately behind the second line stood, on the southern slope of the Thonberg, the dense masses of the Guard, overshadowed by their huge sable plumes, ready to succour any part of the line which might require it. Napoleon himself remained there, about three quarters of a mile in rear of Probstheyda, during nearly the whole action. The position, flanked by the two villages, was defended by S0,000 men, the very flower of the French army, and 400 pieces of cannon, crowded into them and an intervening distance of about a mile. It seemed too strong to be forced by any power but the supports and reserves of the Allies having come up, and the cannonade to the north showing that Blucher and the Crown Prince were now fully engaged, orders were given for the central column to commence the assault of Probstheyda. This order was instantly and enthusiastically obeyed. Under cover of a tremen- 34-36; Fain, dous and concentrated fire of artillery, sent over the heads 420,421; of the attacking columns, the Prussian brigade of Prince 214; Cath. Augustus of Prussia and General Pirsch, which had soli- Die Grosse cited and obtained the post of honour, swiftly advanced 871-874; up the slope leading to the village, which formed a natural 600, 601. glacis, as if made for Drouot's guns. The terrible dis 1 Odel. ii. Vaud. i. 330, 331; Chron. i. Thiers, xvi. XI. CHAP. charge of grape at first staggered the Prussians; but being reinforced, they returned with redoubled vigour, and, rush1813. ing forward, entered Probstheyda at a run, and made themselves masters of half the village. 50. is regained by the French. Seeing the key of his position all but wrested from Probstheyda him by this desperate assault, Napoleon descended from the Thonberg, and in person led the Old Guard up to the rear of Probstheyda. The sight of the well-known bearskin caps, and the knowledge of the Emperor's presence, restored the combat in that quarter. Victor, supported by Lauriston, went fiercely on, and the Prussians were driven out of the village, and desperately cut up by discharges from Drouot's guns, which played upon them as they fell back. Nothing daunted by this bloody repulse, Prince Augustus and General Pirsch re-formed their troops in the plain, and, supported by the remainder of Kleist's corps and a division of Wittgenstein's men, again and again returned to the charge. Despite all their gallantry, however, they were unable to establish themselves in the village, the defenders of which were so actively fed by Victor and Lauriston with reinforcements as the original ones were struck down, that it became evident that by no possible exertions could they be driven out. Probstheyda was soon in flames in every part, and continued to burn fiercely, amidst a tremendous fire from both sides, till night; but the invincible 601, 602; soldiers of Lauriston and Victor still maintained their 332; Vaud. ground amidst the conflagration. More than once the village fell into the hands of the assailants; but they always rallied on the Old Guard, which stood behind, and night found them still in possession of the smoking ruins.1 1 Thiers,xvi. Cath. 331, i. 215; Jom. iv. 471; Plotho, ii. 402. 51. Contest around It had been arranged that during this desperate conflict in Probstheyda, Benningsen should, on being supSutteritz. ported in flank by the Crown Prince, have assailed Stötteritz in front and flank. The Russians were on their ground in good time, and ready for the attack; but the Crown Prince, with the Army of the North, did not make his appearance till three o'clock, and as the attacking force XI. 1813. before his arrival consisted only of Ziethen's Prussians CHAP. and Klenau's Austrians, who had been sorely weakened in the battle of the 16th, and as Drouot's guns from Probstheyda took the attacking columns in flank, no serious impression was there made on Macdonald's men. There was, however, a severe cannonade and fire of musketry kept up on both sides; but no great results followed in that quarter, both parties awaiting the issue of the fight which now raged around them in every direction. The Crown Prince had made so long a circuit in crossing the Partha, Thiers,xvi. having gone round by Taucha, that he could not possibly Cath, 332come up till the conflict was all but decided; and when he ii. 402; did appear, the Prussians were as usual in front, and the Vaud. i.215. Swedes in the rear.1 * 603, 604; 334; Plotho, Bout. 132; 52. tion of the While this was going on to the south of Leipsic, an action fraught with an unprecedented catastrophe had Operations in the north, occurred to the north-east of that town. It had been and deserarranged at a conference held at eight in the morning Saxous. between Blucher and the Crown Prince, that the Russian corps of Langeron, which belonged to the Army of Silesia, should for that day act under the orders of the Crown Prince, and it was only on that condition that he agreed to take a part in the attack. This corps, accordingly, passed the Partha, near Mockau, early in the forenoon; and Woronzoff, who commanded Winzingerode's advancedguard, crossed somewhat higher up the river early in the afternoon, an hour before the rest of the army of the Crown Prince appeared on the high grounds in front of Taucha. Upon seeing so formidable a force accumulating in his front, Ney, who commanded there, took up a defensive position, causing Marmont's corps to form between Schönfeld and Sellershausen, Reynier's to occupy Pauns "Quant à Bernadotte, exécutant un long circuit pour traverser la Partha le plus loin possible des Français, il était allé la franchir à Taucha, et les Prussiens en tête, s'était avancé en face de Reynier par Heiterblick. . . . Benningsen, opposé à notre gauche qui de Probstheyda remontait au nord jusqu'à Leipsic, avait essayé d'aborder Melckau, mais moins hardiment que Schwartzenberg, parce qu'il attendait Bernadotte et Blucher avant de s'engager sérieusement." -THIERS, xvi. 603, 604. |