Battle of Saint-Julien (1814)
Battle of Saint-Julien (1814) | |||||||
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Part of the Campaign of France of the Sixth Coalition | |||||||
The Jura Mountains can be seen from Saint-Julien. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
France | Austria | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ferdinand von Bubna | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
4,800–11,000[1] 13 guns |
5,600–6,000[1] 29 guns | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1,300[1] killed, wounded, or captured 5 guns lost | 650[1] killed, wounded, or captured | ||||||
The Battle of Saint-Julien (1 March 1814) saw
The
Invasion
Geneva falls
Rather than directly invading France from the east across the
When Bubna reached
Lyon saved
Augereau reached Lyon on 14 March where Louis François Félix Musnier informed him that only 1,200 soldiers and 500 raw conscripts were available to defend the city. Leaving Musnier to make the best of a bad situation, Augereau rode to Valence to round up more troops. By 16 January, Austrian patrols lurked outside the walls of Lyon. Believing his shaky soldiers would not be able to hold, Musnier moved them to the west bank of the Saône River on 17 January, evacuating the city. Having got wind of this development, Bubna sent an officer to demand Lyon's surrender. When the Austrian negotiator arrived, a mob gathered nearby and began threatening to throw him in the river. Playing a good bluff, Musnier magnified his own strength and exaggerated the hostility of the city's residents. The hapless Austrian officer's report caused Bubna to reconsider trying to immediately seize the city, which Musnier reoccupied. Even so, Bubna hung around Lyon during 18–19 January.[8] Late on the 19th, 1,200 French troops arrived from Valence and helped drive the Austrians out of the suburbs.[9]
On 20 February, 900 troops and 20 cannon reached Lyon and on the 21st, Augereau returned with 200 cavalry. By this date, Bubna's column had retreated north to Pont-d'Ain; he abandoned Mâcon soon after. Thus, Bubna passed up a splendid opportunity to capture an important city and eliminate a threat to Schwarzenberg's supply line. During this time, Zechmeister invaded Savoie, seizing Aix-les-Bains and Chambéry.[9] The Austrian II Corps began blockading Besançon on 11 January[10] while most of the Army of Bohemia continued moving northwest where it captured Langres on the 17th.[11] The First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube was fought on 24 January and the Battle of Brienne five days later.[12]
Counteroffensive
French recovery
By February 1814, reinforcements allowed Augereau to organize his soldiers into four divisions. Claude Marie Pannetier led 4,200 mostly Spanish campaign veterans, Musnier commanded 5,500 veterans from Spain added to the troops holding Lyon, Martial Bardet had 3,500 conscripts with a sprinkling of veteran cadres and Marchand directed 4,800 conscripts formed around several veteran cadres. From left to right, Augereau arranged his divisions in the order Pannetier, Musnier, Bardet and Marchand. The 2,000 French cavalry was led by Alexandre, vicomte Digeon and a reserve was created from 3,000 National Guards that were unfit for front line duty. With these troops Augereau decided to mount an offensive against Bubna's now-outnumbered 12,000 men.[15]
Augereau ordered Musnier and Pannetier to strike northeast from Lyon toward Geneva, where they would meet Marchand outside the city. When the offensive began on 17 February Augereau remained in Lyon issuing orders. Pannetier's division moved north and captured Villefranche-sur-Saône on 18 February and Mâcon the next day, driving 3,000 Austrians before him and taking 300 prisoners. Musnier moved northeast and pushed Joseph Klopstein von Ennsbruck's 1,000 Austrian infantry and 300 cavalry out of Meximieux on the 18th. After seizing Nantua on 19 February, Musnier pursued Klopstein to the north toward Bourg-en-Bresse after rounding up 300 Austrian prisoners. Augereau sent several thousand reserve troops in Musnier's wake. When Klopstein joined him at Bourg, Bubna decided to abandon that town on 20 February.[16] Klopstein's brigade was originally part of the II Corps before being detached to Bubna's command.[17]
On 18 February 1814, Napoleon inflicted a stinging defeat on an Allied corps at the Battle of Montereau.[18] The next day Schwarzenberg decided to retreat to Troyes where he planned to join Blücher and offer battle to Napoleon on 21–22 February. However, during the evening of the 20th he received disturbing news from Prince Frederick of Hesse-Homburg that Augereau and Marchand were advancing in the south. Schwarzenberg detached Frederick Bianchi with the I Corps, a reserve division and additional troops with orders to march rapidly for Dijon.[19] On 23 February the Austrian field marshal continued his retreat though he and Blücher still outnumbered Napoleon 140,000 to 75,000 after subtracting Bianchi's detachment.[20]
The Austrian field marshal's anxiousness is best explained by a letter he received from Emperor
Marchand's campaign
On 15 February Marchand sent 800 troops against the key Echelles Pass. While the voltigeur (light) companies of the 1st Line Infantry Regiment rushed the barricade, the
Napoleon was critical of Augereau's operations, writing, "You are dispersing your forces in many directions - to the points where the enemy is dispersed rather than striking at his heart". The emperor wanted the marshal to assemble his army into a single force and personally lead them. As the French offensive paused, Bubna scrambled to rearrange his troops. He ordered Georg Heinrich von Scheither's brigade to hold Chalon-sur-Saône to the last and sent Klopstein's brigade[23] to help defend Geneva. On 24 February, Marchand's leading brigade under Joseph Serrant left Aix-les-Bains and drove an Austrian force out of Albens where the road forks. Moving up the right fork the next day, Serrant caused Zechmeister to abandon Annecy and pursued him north to Allonzier-la-Caille. Also on 25 February, Klopstein's brigade reached Frangy to form Klebelberg's western flank. Marchand advanced up the left fork and captured Rumilly and Hauteville-sur-Fier, occupying Frangy on 27 February.[26]
Battle
Klebelsberg controlled 5,600 men in 10 battalions and eight squadrons, supported by 29 guns. Assured by Bubna that he would be sent reinforcements through Switzerland, Klebelsberg arranged his defenses. He deployed Zechmeister on his left at Archamps and Klopstein on his right at Saint-Julien-en-Genevois and Bardonnex.[26] Marchand ordered Serrant to move in the shadow of Mont Salève to outflank Zechmeister. The French general sent Dessaix to attack Klopstein's right flank at the hamlets of Tairier (Thairy) and Turens (Thérens). Marchand would personally direct the center attack directly against Saint-Julien.[27] On 1 March 1814 at 8:00 am, Serrant began pressing back the Warasdiner Kreuzer Grenz Infantry from Le Petit Châble into its main defense line at La Place near Archamps. Two hours later, Dessaix's brigade in three columns drove the Austrians from Viry, Présilly and Songy. A half-battalion of the Wenzel Colloredo Infantry Regiment held up the French advance until being outflanked by one of Dessaix's columns moving from Songy.[28]
As part of his attempt to turn the Austrian right, Dessaix ordered a battalion to move along the Aire stream near Tairier and Crache. To counter this move, the Austrians moved a battalion of the Wenzel Colloredo Regiment to the right flank. Nevertheless, Dessaix captured Crache and Tairier and some nearby high ground. Marchand's center column reached the heights south of Saint-Julien and began to attack the town. This was blocked by three companies each from the Peterwardeiner Grenz and Colloredo Infantry Regiments. Marchand launched a second assault but it was beaten back by a counterattack from two and a half companies from the Vogelsang Infantry Regiment. After this success, the Colloredo and Vogelsang Regiments retook Tairier.[28]
Dessaix fed new battalions into action, but his efforts to roll up the Austrian right were frustrated by five companies of the Kaunitz Infantry Regiment. By nightfall, Dessaix held Tairier and had troops moving along the Turnes ravine. Marchand ordered another assault against Saint-Julien, but his column encountered a battery of 14 Austrian guns, including four 12-pound cannons. The Austrian guns outdueled the French artillery, knocking out two or three of their adversaries' cannons. While both sides camped on the battlefield, Marchand was troubled to find out that his troops had fired off most of their ammunition. He worried that he might have to retreat 100 kilometres (62 mi) to Fort Barraux to resupply his division.[28]
Aftermath
The action was a tactical Austrian victory. The victors inflicted 1,200–1,400 casualties on the French while sustaining only 650 casualties.[28] Another authority stated that the French lost 1,000 killed and wounded and 300 captured out of 11,000 while the Austrians lost 650 men out of 6,000. The French also lost five field pieces.[29] Meanwhile, Augereau had sent Bardet's division to join Marchand via Bellegarde-sur-Valserine.[30] Marchand was spared from retreating when Bardet captured Fort l'Écluse and advanced along the north bank of the Rhône River toward Geneva. Alarmed at this incursion, Bubna quickly ordered Klebelsberg to pull back from Saint-Julien to Geneva.[28] Marchand was able to obtain ammunition from the stocks at Fort l'Écluse.[30]
In late February, Pannetier's division and Digeon's cavalry occupied
Erroneously believing that Marchand and Bardet could easily capture Geneva, Augereau recalled Musnier's division from Champagnole. He gathered together the divisions of Pannetier, Musnier and Digeon and prepared to march northeast to Besançon where he planned to defeat Liechtenstein's II Corps. Hearing of the French change of strategy, Bubna stayed in Geneva, knowing that Marchand did not have sufficient means to capture the place.[30] The 40,000-strong Army of the South under Bianchi made its appearance on 4 March when its leading echelons arrived in Chalon-sur-Saône. A second column under Maximilian Alexander von Wimpffen attacked Poligny while a third column led by Prince Philipp of Hesse-Homburg occupied Dole. Augereau relinquished all his gains and rapidly retreated to Lyon in order to protect that city.[31]
Forces
Austrian Order of Battle: 1 March 1814
1st Lieutenancy:
- Division: Feldmarschall-Leutnant Ferdinand Bubna von Littitz
- Brigade: General-majorTheophil Joseph von Zechmeister
- 6th Jager Battalion
- Broder Grenz Infantry Regiment Nr. 7, one battalion
- Liechtenstein Hussar Regiment Nr. 7, six squadrons
- Horse artillery battery, six 6-pounders
- Brigade: General-major Joseph Klopstein von Ennsbruck
- Kaunitz Infantry Regiment Nr. 20, three battalions
- Wenzel Colloredo Infantry Regiment Nr. 56, three battalions
- Foot artillery battery, eight 6-pounders
- Brigade:
- Division: Feldmarschall-Leutnant Johann Nepomuk von Klebelsberg
- Peterwardeiner Grenz Infantry Regiment Nr. 9, one battalion
- Levenehr Dragoon Regiment Nr. 4, two squadrons
- Horse artillery battery, six 6-pounders
- Geneva garrison:
- Reuss-Greiz Infantry Regiment Nr. 18, three battalions
- Levenehr Dragoon Regiment Nr. 4, four squadrons
- Blankenstein Hussar Regiment Nr. 6, six squadrons
- Foot artillery battery, composition not stated
- Reserve artillery: Foot artillery battery, six 12-pounders
Source: Nafziger 2015, pp. 554–555, 641
Source of regimental numbers: Pivka 1979, pp. 82–84, 89–91
French Order of Battle: 15–16 February 1814
General of Division Joseph Marie Dessaix
- General of BrigadeJoseph Serrant (5,206)
- 8th Light Infantry Regiment, one battalion, 430 men
- 18th Light Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 718 men
- 26th Light Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 320 men
- 1st Line Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 400 men
- 5th Line Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion, 443 men
- 7th Line Infantry Regiment, one battalion, 320 men
- 11th Line Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion, 393 men
- 23rd Line Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 243 men
- 60th Line Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion, 428 men
- 79th Line Infantry Regiment, 7th Battalion, 405 men
- 81st Line Infantry Regiment, 7th Battalion, 483 men
- Customs Guards, 160 men
- 4th and 31st Chasseurs à Cheval, 103 men
- Volunteer gunners, 110 men
- Division: General of Brigade Martial Bardet (4,325 men) arrived 2 March
- 23rd Light Infantry Regiment, 6th Battalion, 730 men
- 20th Line Infantry Regiment, 6th Battalion, 647 men
- 60th Line Infantry Regiment, 6th Battalion, 721 men
- 67th Line Infantry Regiment, 6th Battalion, 665 men
- 79th Line Infantry Regiment, 6th Battalion, 721 men
- 115th Line Infantry Regiment, 6th Battalion, 841 men
Source: Nafziger 2015, pp. 611–612, 639
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Bodart 1908, p. 475.
- ^ Leggiere 2007, pp. 188–191.
- ^ a b Leggiere 2007, p. 127.
- ^ Leggiere 2007, p. 128.
- ^ Leggiere 2007, p. 131.
- ^ Leggiere 2007, p. 211.
- ^ Leggiere 2007, pp. 506–507.
- ^ Leggiere 2007, pp. 508–509.
- ^ a b Leggiere 2007, pp. 510–511.
- ^ Leggiere 2007, p. 503.
- ^ Leggiere 2007, p. 514.
- ^ Smith 1998, p. 490.
- ^ Nafziger 2015, p. 375.
- ^ Nafziger 2015, p. 376.
- ^ Nafziger 2015, p. 377.
- ^ Nafziger 2015, p. 378.
- ^ Nafziger 2015, p. 556.
- ^ Smith 1998, pp. 498–499.
- ^ Petre 1994, pp. 86–87.
- ^ Petre 1994, pp. 88–89.
- ^ Petre 1994, p. 50.
- ^ Petre 1994, p. 80.
- ^ a b Nafziger 2015, p. 380.
- ^ a b Nafziger 2015, p. 379.
- ^ Nafziger 2015, p. 560.
- ^ a b Nafziger 2015, p. 381.
- ^ a b Nafziger 2015, p. 382.
- ^ a b c d e Nafziger 2015, p. 383.
- ^ Smith 1998, p. 505.
- ^ a b c d Nafziger 2015, p. 384.
- ^ Nafziger 2015, pp. 385–386.
References
- Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- Leggiere, Michael V. (2007). The Fall of Napoleon: The Allied Invasion of France 1813-1814. Vol. 1. New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-87542-4.
- ISBN 978-1-909982-96-3.
- ISBN 1-85367-163-0.
- ISBN 0-8008-5471-3.
- ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
External links
- Media related to Battle of Saint-Julien (1814) at Wikimedia Commons