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The Ulm Campaign 1805

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The Ulm Campaign 1805
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Author(s): F. N. Maude
Date Published: 2008/01
Page Count: 192
Softcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-403-4
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1-84677-404-1

Two of history's greatest commanders clash with the fate of Empires at stake

In the Ulm campaign of 1805, Napoleon demonstrated his mastery of the command of the Grande Armee-some 210,000 men-in a masterful flanking movement which was designed to defeat the Austrian Army under Mack in the Danube region before the intervention of the Russian Army under Kutuzov could affect the outcome. This, the third-and final-book in F.N Maude's trilogy on the campaigns of Napoleon to be published by Leonaur, recounts an aspect of the 'War of the Third Coalition' which is widely considered to be a strategic masterpiece by the French Emperor. The battle of Austerlitz would finalise victory and ensure the defeat of the Austrians, but it would be Ulm which would confirm France as the leading power in Europe. This history, combined with Maude's Jena and Leipzig campaigns-also published by Leonaur-are essential components of every Napoleonic library.

Werneck accordingly set his column again in motion towards Herbrechtingen, and Hohenzollern who had missed his orders marched on alone into the midst of his French pursuers with disastrous results. Presently the French advance overtook Werneck also, when a parlementaire summoned him to surrender, but was sent back. <br>
The French then attacked his column which had scarcely had time to take up a position on the heights of Herbrechtingen. Though this attack was successfully repulsed, the Austrians bivouacked in considerable disorder and were surprised by the French about 9 o’clock that night. There was a bad defile immediately behind the heights and some 2000 prisoners fell into French hands. The bulk of the column however managed to get away and filed through Niederkocher from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the 17th. Nearing Aalen a fresh order from the Archduke overtook them, instructing Werneck to join him at Oettingen by Neresheim and Trochtelfingen. The exhausted troops, who had been marching and fighting without cessation for forty-eight hours, now bent off from the high road and waded by cross-country tracks to Neresheim, which they reached between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. They were actually at the end of their tether, the men sinking worn out by the roadside. Their chance of repose, however, did not last long. Within a couple of hours the French Cavalry again appeared, and the tired men struggled to their feet to resume their march through Neresheim on Trochtelfingen. But by the hundred they fell into the pursuers’ hands though the remnant still maintained their discipline, and beat off repeated attacks of the enemy.<br>
Only some 2000 reached Trochtelfingen, which place they found under water. Here the famished and extenuated men again threw themselves on the muddy ground to snatch if possible a few moments’ sleep.<br>
Then Werneck learnt the fate of Hohenzollern’s command, and seeing further resistance was hopeless, he at last consented to receive a flag of truce and terms of surrender were signed at 11 p.m.<br>
Actually only 71 officers, 1553 men with 31 horses passed into captivity, for nearly all the mounted men and officers had slipped away in the darkness whilst preliminaries were being negotiated, and went to rejoin the Prince about Oettingen. He, hearing of this final disaster, now made up his mind to strive for the Bohemian frontier via Nuremberg, which he eventually reached in safety.<br>
From Oettingen the Archduke addressed a letter to the Emperor of Austria, giving his views on the situation in Ulm, and also his reasons for leaving the Army. These latter, I imagine no Court of Honour nowadays would consider as a sufficient justification, even if one could find a Royal Prince in Europe capable of such dishonourable conduct in a similar situation.<br>
To return to the movements of the French Army. Whilst Loison’s Division was fighting at Elchingen and the rest of the VI. Corps were moving up in support, Lannes (V. Corps) with the reserve Cavalry had moved by the right bank of the Danube up to the bridge-head at Ulm, brushing aside the few Austrian detachments which Mack had sent out for purposes of observation, his losses for this day being only 8 killed and 50 wounded. Marmont also reached his destination practically unopposed and stood ready to attack the enemy should he attempt to escape by the Biberach road.<br>
Soult continued his wide-flung and profitless march to cut the Biberach road, leaving Vandamme’s Division behind to overawe the garrison of Memmingen. These, some 4500 strong, were so disgusted by the poltroonery of their Commandant that they were threatening to break the capitulation.
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