The Battle of Austerlitz fought by
Napoleon's First Empire French Army against the a Prussian Army and
Russian Army. Military art prints of the Battle of Austerlitz by
Meissonier, Horace Vernet, published by Cranston Fine Arts.
BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ On the 19th
of November 1805 The French advance north from Vienna reached Brunn in
Moravia. Napoleon rested his army of 70,000 men. Napoleons aim was
to bring to battle the forces of Russia and Austria. The
Austrian and Russian Generals were not going to disappoint him. They
had already begun drawing up a counter attack. At the end of
November the joint armies began moving southwestward from Olmutz. There
plan was to cut off Napoleon from Vienna and attack the French at the
village of Austerlitz. The Russian and Austrian forces occupied the
Pratzen Plateau and from there on December 2nd launched their attack on
the French Right Flank. General Count Friedrich von Buxhow attacked
with a Russian force of 40,000 men against The French force of 10,500 men
under the command of Marshal Louis Davout. The Davout French troops
resisted the Russian attack napoleon advance the main part of his army
against the Allies Center. The Russian and Austrian force occupying the
Pratzen Plateau were drivan of the Plateau by Marshal Nicolas Soult's
force of 20,000 French. The North Flank of the Allied army was
attacked by the French Corps under Marshal Jean Lannes and Marshal Jean
Bernadotte. These Corps were also supported by Marshal Joachim Murats
cavalry. After a brave attempt to rally his forces. Mikhail Kutuzov allied
force began to break and it was not long before they allied force began
to flee in disorder through the village of Austerlitz. and
eventually when Davout counterattacked across the Goldbach the entire
Austrian and Russian Line broke and turned into a rout. But the
French Army were in no condition to pursue. Although exhausted the French
army had gained a great victory which recked the Coalition against
napoleon. The French losses were 2,000 Killed and 7,000 wounded compared
to the allied losses of 15,000 Killed and wounded and a total of 11,000
taken prisoner.
