- Battle of Montereau
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Battle of Montereau
colour_scheme=background:#cccccc
caption=
partof=theNapoleonic Wars
date=February 18 ,1814
place=Montereau-Fault-Yonne ,France
result=French Victory
combatant1=
combatant2=flagicon|Austrian Empire Austria
commander1=
commander2=flagicon|Austrian Empire Field Marshal Schwarzenberg
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=2,500
casualties2=6,000|The Battle of Montereau was fought nearMontereau-Fault-Yonne onFebruary 18 ,1814 and resulted in the victory of the French underNapoleon Bonaparte against Austrians and the Württembergeois under Royal Prince ofWürttemberg .Background
Following his successes with the
Six Days Campaign (10th to 14th February, 1814) in smashing the Allied drive on Paris, Napoleon headed southward towardsSeine River where the main Austrian Army underKarl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg , was threatening Paris from the southeast. Napoleon stopped the advance on Paris at Mormant (about 30 miles from Paris) on 17th February, some French units had to march 60 miles in 36 hours to reach MormantEggenberger. pg.284] .This action, plus defeats suffered by the Prussians to the north, caused the Prince of Schwarzeberg to order a retreat. Schwarzeberg left
Frederick I of Württemberg , to command a rearguard at the key village ofMontereau , which was located at the confluence of the Rivers Seine and Yonne.Battle
Napoleon ordered
Marshal Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno , to Montereau, but Victor's force was slow in marching on Montereau, this gave time for Württemberg to strengthen his hasty positions. Harassing Cavalry attacks by GeneralClaude Pierre, comte Pajol , managed to push back outposts and slow the improvements of the defenses, but could do little else without the support of the infantry troops of General Victor-Perrin.At 9:00 AM on the 18th Victor arrived at Montereau, Napoleon furious with Victor’s slow advance, replaced him with General
Étienne Maurice Gérard .Gérard set to work establishing fire superiority over Württemberg’s defending troops. By early afternoon artillery of the
Imperial Guard had arrived and allowed Gérard to silence Württemberg’s batteries and bombard the village.At 3:00PM a French attack captured a ridge forming the key to Montereau’s defences. Frederick I of Württemberg subsequently ordered a retreat, but it was soon turned into a rout by a cavalry forces lead by
Claude Pierre, comte Pajol leading a sweep into the village and Allied rear. Pajol’s cavalry charge also prevented the Allies from detonating demolition charges on two key bridges allowing further pursuit.Conclusion
The Allies suffered 6,000 casualties and lost 15 cannons, the French suffered 2,500 casualtiesChandler. "The Campaigns of Napoleon." pg.980] . The army of
Frederick I of Württemberg was in full retreat and that ofKarl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg fled eastwards towardsTroyes in disarray.Footnotes
References
*Chandler, David G. "The Campaigns of Napoleon". Scribner, 1966.
*Chandler, David. "Dictionary of the Napoleonic wars". Wordsworth editions, 1999.
*Eggenberger, D. "An Encyclopaedia of Battles". Dover Publications inc., 1985.
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