汉瑙之战-德鲁奥将军的奇袭
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Guard Artillery in the Battle of Hanau, 1813.
The Guard Artillery deployed in such a position as to take enemy's artillery in flank.
At Hanau the French army (60,000-90,000 men under Napoleon) in retreat from Leipzig fought its way through a road block of 30,000-45,000 Bavarians, Austrians and Cossacks under General Wrede. On the 30th, Napoleon appeared in front of Hanau with a force of 15,000-20,000 men, with another 15,000 following close behind.
French officer Marbot writes: "In the direction from which we were coming, a large forest, through which the road runs, covers the approach to Hanau. The tall trees of this forest allow movement without much difficulty. The town of Hanau is built on the other side of the river Kinzig. ... It is true that the position he (Bavarian General Wrede) occupied barred the way to Frankfort and to France, and he felt certain that he could prevent us from forcing a passage." (- Baron de Marbot)
The French infantry was unable to make progress in some woods, but when Drouot arrived with the Guard artillery his preliminary reconnaissance showed him a profitable line of attack. French Guard Cavalry led by Nansouty moved forward against the enemy cavalry on the left flank. Nansouty's first line wheeled left to attack the infantry in the center.
Friant and Cambronne cleared the woods with 2 battalions of the Old Guard in skirmish order, then Drouot defiled through them with 15 guns and deployed in such a position as to take enemy's artillery in flank.
Map of battle of Hanau "Behind this screen the reminder of the Guard Artillery deployed, making a total of 50 pieces. When these guns had begun to throw the enemy into confusion the Guard Cavalry completed the rout. The Bavarian cavalry then counterattacked, but Drouot held his own cavalry in front of the guns until the very last minute. When the enemy had arrived at close range the French cavalry then wheeled away to reveal the massed battery, which proceeded to make very short work of the Bavarians." (Griffith - "French Artillery" p 46)
Once clear of the wood they blew apart the static Bavarian troops holding that part of the battlefield. They also dimounted 28 of the enemy's guns.
"As Wrede was sending infantry and cavalry reinforcements to the threatened sector, Sebastiani charged and broke the enemy horse, but was in turn driven back to Drouot's grand battery by recently arrived Bavarian cavalry. However the Bavarian success was short-lived. Nansouty's Guard Cavalry spearheaded by the Old Guard Horse Grenadiers ferociously counterattacked. The "Gods", the Polish lancers, and the Honor Guard cut their way through the outmatched Bavarian lighthorsemen. Meanwhile, the Guard Dragoons charged and broke three battalion squares of enemy infantry as the Old Guard Chasseurs broke and captured two entire Bavarian battalions. The impetus of the Guard's Cavalry's charge disintegrated Wrede's entire command of the left bank of the Kinzig." (Bowden - "Napoleon's Grande Armee of 1813" p 197)
Napoleon's victory had cost him 6,000, while Wrede suffered 9,000. Napoleonic troops could now continue their move towards France.
死于1815年战役的勒托尔.德.洛尔维将军在此战中亦表现出众,他指挥近卫军龙骑兵部队攻破三个方阵,自己的坐骑也被打倒。 |