Fedor Schubert (Shubert), Diary of the 1813 Campaign

Fedor Fedorovich Schubert (Shubert) (1789 – 1865) was born to a German noble family in St. Petersburg. He began service in the Quartermaster Service of the Imperial Retinue and served on a diplomatic mission to China in 1805.Returning to Russia, Schubert rose to a sub-lieutenant in the quartermaster service and took part in the campaigns in Poland in 1806-1807, fighting at Eylau (wounded, earned the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class). After recuperating, he joined the Russian army in Finland and fought at Forsbü, Revelholm and the capture of the Aland Islands. In the summer of 1809, he took part in the Russo-Swedish negotiations leading to the Peace Treaty of Fridrixham on 17 September 1809. Schubert then served under the Russian Foreign Minister Nikolay Rumyantsev and served on several diplomatic missions to Napoleon between late 1809 and early 1810.

In the spring of 1810, Schubert joined the Army of Danube and fought at Silistra, Shumla, Ruse and Batin, where he was wounded and earned promotion to captain and a golden sword. During the 1812 Campaign, he served as ober-quartermaster of the 2nd Cavalry Corps in the 1st Western Army and took part in the actions at Ostrovno, Smolensk, Borodino, Spas Kuplya, Tarutino, Maloyaroslavets, Vyazma and Krasnyi. For the 1812 Campaign, Shubert garnered the Order of St. Anna (2nd class) with diamonds and promotion to lieutenant colonel (29 July 1813). In 1813, he served with the 2nd Cavalry Corps at Glogau, Lutzen, Bautzen, Reichenbach, Löwenberg, Goldberg, Katzbach, Zobten and Leipzig, where he earned the rank of colonel and the Prussian Orders of Red Eagle and the Pour le Merite.

In 1814, Schubert served in the Army of Silesia and distinguished himself at La Fère Champenoise and Paris. In March-December 1814, he served as a liaison officer between the Russian and Prussian headquarters. In July 1815, he became ober-quartermaster of the Russian occupation corps in France, where he remained for the next three years. Returning to Russia, Schubert became director of the III Section of the Military Topographic Depot in 1819, director of the Topographic Corps in 1822 and director of the Military Topographic Depot in 1832. In 1829-1837, he headed the Hydrographic Bureau of the Naval General Staff, rising to major general in 1820, to lieutenant general in 1831 and general of infantry in 1845. He served as general quartermaster of the General Staff in 1834-1843 before becoming a member of the War Council in 1843 and head of the Military Academic Committee in 1846. During his career, Schubert was instrumental in completing numerous topographic maps and surveys of various Russian provinces.

The original manuscript is preserved at Russian State Historical Museum and was published in Russian in 1992:1812-1814: Iz sobraniya Gosudarstvennogo Istoricheskogo Muzeya (Moscow: Terra, 1992). This English translation was earlier published on the Napoleonic Series website.

Diary of The 1813 Campaign

APRIL-MAY


18 [30] April. I arrived the day earlier to Gössnitz, after traveling on a terrible road. Korff took command of the detachment from St. priest. I traveled to Altenburg to speak with Blucher; I found there only Miloradovich, who told me that the enemy was marching to Leipzig via Naumbourh and Weissenfels; that the Prussians were repulsed at Mersebourg and that General Bertrand[1] with 25,000 men advanced from Jena to Altenbourg. I left and dispatched two detachments to Zeiz and Gera.

19 [1 May].  Miloradovich’s entire corps concentrated at Altenbourg.The position between the town and river is dreadful; finally, it is decided to take up positions on the right bank of the Pleisse. Cannonade can be heard: it is Winzegorode engaging enemy advance guard near Lutzen.[2]

20 [2 May]. We got news that Wittgenstein was to attack; we marched to Predel on Elster. Arriving at Meuselwitz, we changed plans and marched to Zeiz, where we took up excellent position behind the town. Wittgenstein’s battle could be heard and seen in distance. We hoped for better. (No. 1)

21 [3 May]. At 3 a.m. we received order to advance to Pegau. Arriving at Predel, we encountered the Prussians and the retreating army of Wittgenstein; to cover their march to Drashwitz, we took up disadvantageous position near Predel.  Winzegorode, who was to march with his cavalry through Pegau, moved instead to Moelsen and Zeiz; as a result the enemy turned our right flank. At 4 a.m. the enemy attached us and took Draschwitz. We remained in position at Köneritz until night and then retreated.

22 [4 May]. After a night march to Lucka, we arrived at Frohburg, where we encountered Miloradovich with his corps and Wittgenstein’s corps. We bivouacked in front of the town, awaiting them to march through it, and then moved through the town and deployed on quite good positions. The Prussians, who were to defend Borna, abandoned it and the large enemy columns turned our right flank, moving towards Briessnitz; by the end of the day, we moved to Geithain.

23 [5 May]. At afternoon we learned that the Prussians, who were to defend Colditz, retired from there. We marched to Rochlitz; just as we arrived, we were told that St. Priest engaged the enemy as Harta. We marched at once to Geringswalde, where we were almost cut off. The action continued until the evening and we defended position at Waldheim, where all our forces, including cavalry from Frohburg, finally concentrated.

24 [6 May]. The following day, we retreated to Etzdorf, because the enemy concentrated superior forces at Dobeln, where the Prussians were supposed to be. Miloradovich and Wittgenstein halted at Nossen and the former gave order to march again to Waldheim. Korff tried to prove the impossibility of this order and, having failed, he then pretended to be ill. Prince of Württemberg took his command. We arrived at Nossen and camped at Tanneberg.

25 [7 May]. We retreated to Wilsdruff. Had we remained a half an hour longer at Tanneberg, the enemy would have captured us.

26 [8 May]. Early ion the morning we moved to Dresden, where we crossed the Elbe at noon without any enemy pursuits. The bridge was blown up prematurely: rear guards of Miloradovich and Lanskoy crossed the Elbe on the bridges upstream and downstream. The previous day, the enemy suddenly attacked Lanskoy at Freiberg but failed to anticipate us at Dresden. During the crossing of the Elbe, an infantry battalion[3] distinguished itself: it was abandoned at the bridgehead on the left bank and the bridge was set on fire; the battalion, having thrown weapons into the river, swam with its officers across the river under the enemy fire. What troops! The fighting on the Elbe continued till evening.

27 [9 May]. During the night, 40 enemy skirmishers crossed the Elbe and established a bridgehead at Ubigau. [We] tried to drive them back, but they were reinforced. Gradually, Miloradovich’s entire corps was committed to the action, but failed to achieve success because of large enemy batteries, skillfully deployed on the opposite riverbank. We suffered considerable casualties and retired to Reichenberg in the evening. After an arduous march, we were ordered to recapture the town and defend the crossing. Miloradovich successfully executed it since the French made a mistake of not occupying Neustadt.

28 [10 May]. Early in the morning, we marched to Weissig; the enemy was deceived by our march to Reichenberg and removed batteries and skirmishers along the Elbe; this saved us from serious difficulties.

29 [11 May]. At afternoon, the enemy attacked St. Priest, who held his positions; the army plans to take up position at Gobau, where all quartermasters were already recalled.

30 [12 May]. Having changed position, we deployed behind Bautzen. I traveled to Bischofswerda, where I found the advance guard engaged in bitter fighting; I returned with Korff to Bautzen.


1-2 [13-14 May]. Complete serenity. King of Saxony, having returned to Dresden, made a new alliance and surrended Torgau. Commandant of this fortress, General Tielemann[4] fled and was accepted to our service with a rank of lieutenant general.

3 [15 May].  The enemy repulsed Miloradovich to Bautzen; our cavalry executed two good charges against the enemy infantry.[5] Emmanuel,[6] who was at Neukirchen, captured 500 men. Barclay’s advance guard arrived at Hoyerswerda. Kleist’s[7] corps joined the army. At noon, the enemy, although within our artillery fire, remained calm, perhaps because he could see our entire army preparing for battle. It was said that only Macdonald and Marmont[8] were opposing us. We received news that there was an engagement between the Austrians and the French near Peterswalde. Stadion[9] was expected at the Headquarters.

4-5 [16-17 May]. The enemy remained calm; our troops occupied the town and the right bank of the Spree; the enemy is on the opposite bank.

6 [18 May].  Barclay’s army joined us on the right flank; as a result our line became more extended. We received news that Lauriston and Sebastiani,[10] who at the opening of campaign were ordered to move to Magdeburg, turned back and marched on the road to Hoyerswerda against our right flank. General Barclay moved against them.

7 [19 May].  Barclay encountered the enemy at noon near Konigswarta; there was a vicious actions and [Barclay] was reinforced by the Grenadiers and Kleist’s corps. The enemy was repulsed and joined the army at Bautzen. 10 guns, 1,000 men and 2 generals were captured.

8 [20 May].  Barclay with his troops returned to the army. At 2 a.m. the enemy attacked us, captured the town, drove Miloradovich back to the initial positions and occupied the heights on the left flank, that were recaptured only after a savage fighting late in the evening.

9 [21 May]. At 7 a.m. the enemy attacked our left flank; the heights changed hands several times before we finally secured them.  At 11 a.m. Napoleon attacked our right flank. Barclay was slightly pressed but held ground; then Napoleon attacked Blucher and by 5 p.m. he completely defeated him. Retreat was ordered at this time and it was carried out in complete order and without casualties. At this moment Bavarian force of 8,000 men[11] newly arrived and, having attacked our left flank, captured the heights with extraordinary swiftness; however, the enemy was soon again driven back and in the evening we recaptured the heights. At 6.p.m. our army began retreating, covered by the cavalry; our advance posts remained near the battlefield, and we took a cannon, captured by the cavalry. Hochkirch was burning all through the night and we stayed at Plotgau.

10 [22 May].  Early in the morning we moved to Loebau, where we stayed until 9 a.m. We received news that another our column, marching through Glogau, was hard pressed by the enemy but still moved through; therefore, we had to continue march. On the heights between Schöps and Reichenbach we found General Rayevsky[12] fighting superior enemy forces to cover our retreat. We took up positions behinds the town; a vigorous cannonade soon commenced. The enemy cavalry pierced through between the Ölisch River and the town. Having turned the left flank of our infantry, it attached our cavalry that was disorganized by this surprise attack, but soon rallied and counterattacked. However, were soon forced to abandon this position and held ground near Landskrone. A cannonball splinter killed Duroc[13] as he stood near Napoleon when he persuaded the Saxons to leave Torgau and advance.

11 [23 May].  After a night at Gorlitz, we took position in front of Leopoldschayn; Blucher covered the road to Bunzlau. At 2 o’clock, we were attacked but having defended a defile between Leololdschasyn and Trotschendorf, we held ground at Lichtenberg until darkness; we camped Schreibersdorf

12 [24 May].  The enemy attacked our rear guard from two sides, forcing it to retreat and take up position ay Lauban. Under new disposition, Korff was completely removed from command and, as a result, we bivouacked at Lowenberg.

13 [25 May].  Our rear guard approached the town in the evening and we spend night at Pilgramsdorf. Count Pahlen,[14] who commanded this rear guard, was lightly wounded.

14 [26 May].  We marched to Goldberg. The Prussians gained success over the enemy; 18 guns captured and entire division scattered. Marchal Davout had his leg torn off.[15]

15 [27 May].  We march to Jauer.

16 [28 May].   We march to Striegau. At noon I traveled to Schweidnitz to meet General Barclay and returned at night.

17 [29 May].  We move to Jauernick; I again traveled to Schweidnitz.

18 [30 May].  I again traveled to Schweidnitz with General Korff.

19 [31 May].  The army is camped behind Schweidnitz. The rear guard is at Jauer. In the morning I will go to Schweidnitz and later we all will march there.

JUNE

20 [1 June].  In the evening, the enemy occupied Breslau. There are rumors about negotiations. The Prussians declared they will not cross the Oder River.

21 [2 June].  Shuvalov traveled to meet Napoleon; a 36-hour armistice is concluded.[16]

22 [3 June].  The army is retreating to Gross-Wilkau. A 6-week armistice was recently signed, on conditions not favorable to us.[17] As a result, the troops are placed in quarters. We remain at Schweidnitz, Korff was given the 2nd Cuirassier Division.



2 [14 June]. We left Schweidnitz and arrived at Roth-Schloss, where we spent night at General Rezvyi

3 [15 June]. We arrived to Strehlen and spent night at Marienau.

4 [16 June]. Arrived at Grottkau and rested on the 5th.

6 [18 June]. Marched to Brieg. Korff left to recuperate at the Landeck resort.

7 [19 June].  We marched to Dammer; quarters were terrible and we decided to change them, arriving

8 [20 June]. to Navssadel, where we stayed with Mr. De Heydebrandt for five weeks.


JULY-AUGUST


13 [25 July]. Since the armistice was prolonged, we remained tranquil. I traveled several times to [Andrey Pavlovich] Zass and together we ventured to Prince of Württemberg at Carlsruhe. I had then to examine that area. We expect Kretov’s cuirassier division tomorrow. Korff received command of entire light cavalry and I remain with him. Korff instructed us to join him at Grottkau, where he arrived a few days earlier from Landeck. We traveled to Brieg.

14 [26 July]. We arrived at Grottkau only to find dreadful quarters. On the 16th – grand review of the Guard and cuirassiers; the Emperor [Alexander] and the King [of Prussia Frederick William III] held it. On the 17th – review of Uhlans, where we got soaked by the rain.

25 [6 August]. I left Grottkau for Munsterberg to organize bivouacs and tomorrow our troops would arrive there. On the 27th the Grand duke [Constantine} would join them.

29 [10 August]. Yesterday Korff received order to join Langeron’s corps, where he was to take command of cavalry.[18] We passed through Frankenstein and arrived at the Headquarters at Reichenbach. The following day I was promoted to lieutenant colonel. I will [soon] travel to Burse.

31 [12 August].  We passed through Schweidnitz and arrived to the quarters at Buntzelwitz.


AUGUST-SEPTEMBER


3 [15 August].  We march to Strigau. Yesterday famous [Antoine Henri] Jomini (chief of staff of the 3rd Corps) defected to our side.

4 [16 August].  We march to Bolkenhagen, where we will stay on the 5th

6 [18 August].  Marched to Schonau. The Advance guard moved to Goldberg that was abandoned by the enemy. Kaisarov[19] with his detachment was attacked at Lahn and driven back.

7 [19 August].  We march to Zobten. Rudzevich[20] with advance guard attacked the enemy at Sibeneichen and drove him back. Meantime, Macdonald arrived to reinforce Lauriston from the Lahn direction and in the evening we were forced to re-cross the Bober River. The Prussians, who were to attack Lowenberg in the meantime, dispatched there only their advance guard after they encountered the enemy at Graditzberg.

8 [20 August].  The enemy left Lahn and Sibeneichen. Sacken is at Bunzlau, while we remained idle.

9 [21 August]. The enemy feinted to retreat and then suddenly crossed the Bober at Lowenberg, attacked the Prussians and tried to pass between them and us. A ferocious fighting began that ended with our retreat to Pilgramsdorf. Sacken , meantime, was attacked at Buntzlau and driven back. It was said that Napoleon had arrived.

10 [22 August]. I was dispatched to Kaptsevich, who was marching to Vogtsberg. The enemy attacked us at 11 o’clock with 10-12000 men: we retreated and fought behind Goldberg. The army marched to Hammersdorf; during the night I returned to Korff.

11 [23 August]. General Blucher devised plan of attack, based on intelligence that the main French forces had retreated and we were facing only Lauriston. Me moved to Goldberg. The action was successful. York[21] and Sacken were to turn enemy flank, but Sacken reported that an enemy detachment was at Liegnitz, so we again retired to Hammersdorf.

12 [24 August]. We march to Jauer.

13 [25 August].  We march with cavalry to Seichau. The army is at Hammersdorf. The Prussians are on our right flank. The enemy remains at positions at Goldberg, facing Plaunitz.

14 [26 August].  At 8 o’clock the enemy attacked us and drove the advance guard to our initial positions, where we resolutely engaged him. The battle continued for entire day; cannonade was dreadful, similar to that at Borodino; we remained on the battlefield. It rained constantly and so heavily that it was almost impossible to fire muskets. Meantime, the Prussians and Sacken advanced forward and attacked the enemy, capturing 50 guns and a few thousand prisoners.[22] Completely soaked and hungry, we went to bed in miserable hut.

15 [27 August].  At dawn, our advance guard pursued the enemy, who tried to hold ground at Goldberg. A square of 4 battalions was mowed down and 8 guns captured. Headquarters were established at Goldberg. The road reminded me the route from Moscow to Vilno. It rained continuously and the Katzbach was inundated.

16 [28 August].  The army remained at Goldberg; the advance guard pursued the enemy and captured six guns and numerous prisoners at Pilgramsdorf. The Prussians also engaged in pursuit and seized 9 guns. We received news that Bernadotte won a victory[23] four lieues from Berlin, capturing 27 cannon, 2,000 men and is moving to Torgau, while Wittgenstein capture fortified camp at Pirna.

17 [29 August].  The weather is finally improving; we are marching to Lowenberg. On route, we learned than an enemy column, that was moving towards this town, failed to cross the Bober River because of inundation and advanced to Buntzlau. A French division, marching to Schonau, retired yesterday to Zobten  but failed to cross the river there as well.  It then moved to Lowenberg to attempt crossing but was anticipated there by our advance guard under Rudzevich. As soon as cannonade was heard, Korff led his entire cavalry to Zobten. Prince Sherbatov’s corps followed him. The enemy, deployed on the heights with its rear towards the river, opened heavy artillery fire.  Two jager regiments were dispatched to attack [the French] from rear. The action ended in less than an hour. 16 guns, 4 colors and entire division of 4 infantry regiments with its commander General Puthaud[24] were captured or drowned in the Bober. Thus was the result of an action that cost us nothing.

18 [30 August].  The army concentrated at Zobten; it was decided to cross the river at Dippelsdorf, where a Westphalian division is deployed, with its 20 guns at Lowenberg. Korff took the command.

19 [31 August].  During the night, construction of pontoon bridges began but becayse of swift current of the Bober as well as ignorance of pontoon engineers, we crossed only around 9 a.m., though we did not encountered any obstacles from the enemy who retreated under the cover of darkness. Yesterday, St. Priest’s advance guard reached vicinities of Greiffenberg. We proceed to Greiffenberg. The road to Seiffersdorf was dreadful; Rudzevich’s advance guard, having passed Braunau, already reached Lauban. We received news that on the 14th Wittgenstein assaulted Dresden but was repulsed with considerable losses; that Napoleon with his army crossed the Elbe at Konigstein and that our main army took positions upstream near Altenbourg.  (No. 2)

20 [1 September].   The advance guard crossed the Lucies at Lauban. We remained idle. Sacken marches to Naumburg. Bennigsen with his army proceeded from the direction of Breslau , which he already passed. We held Te Deum for the liberation of Silesia and in the evening we marched with cavalry to Lauban.

21 [2 September].  At dawn, we left for Kahna, but the enemy already evacuated Gorlitz; the outposts were moved towards Lobau. The Poles abandoned Zittau.

22 [3 September].  We march to Gorlitz. The advance guard under Vasilchikov proceeded to Hochkirch. We received news that Vandamme with 40,000 men crossed the Elbe at Konigstein and was attacked by our army at Kulm, near Teplitz on the 18th; his corps was completely destroyed, Vandamme himself, together with 6 generals, 20,000 men,  and over 60 guns captured. Tauenzien[25] captured 1,500 men and 11 guns near Lucka. Chernishev[26] seized 2,000 men and 9 guns. Barclay received the Order of St. George (1st class), Shwartzenberg and Blucher – the Order of St. Andrew the First called, Osterman[27] (who lost his hand) – the Order of St. George of 2nd class, Miloradovich – a sword with diamonds and 50,000 rubles, Langeron – a monogram[28] and 30,000 rubles. Sacken was promoted to general of infantry.

23 [4 September].  We marched to Bautzen; near Hochkirch, we received news that Napoleon arrived with his guard; that the enemy halted retreat and that he recaptured Hochkirch and advanced. We remained at Lobau.

24 [5 September].  At 1 a.m. we advanced to Gorlitz and took positions near Landscrone. Around 5 p.m. the enemy drove our advance so far back that our army had to re-cross the Neisse in great disorder. Finally, everything worked out fine because the enemy failed to exploit circumstances. As for us, we proceeded to Lauban.

25 [6 September].  The army arrived at Lauban and crossed the Lucies. The enemy advance guard crossed the Neisse but could defeat our advance guard.

26 [7 September].  It is still quiet.

27 [8 September].  A plan of offensive on Gorlitz is adopted; early in the morning, we marched to Ostrig, where we arrived in the evening. St. Priest crossed the river and camped on the opposite side of the town.

28 [9 September].  We marched to Bernsdadtel; St. Priest attacked the Poles[29] at Lauban and drove them back. Instead of attacking us on march, the enemy retreated. York, who was to make a frontal attack, did not appear. In the evening, our cavalry occupied Reichenbach while Sacken took Gorlitz.

29 [10 September].  Days of rest; the enemy retreated to Bautzen.

30 [11 September]. We received news of Crown Prince [Bernadotte’s] victory over Ney of 6 September (new style).[30] As a result, 60 guns and 10,000 men were captured. At 3 p.m. we resumed march on a dreadful road to Neusalza.

31 [12 September].  Day of rest. It became known that the main army was already engaged in battle for two days but it is unclear where and how.



1 [13 September]. A heavy cannonade was heard from early morning, but no one knew where it came from; in the evening we learned that St. Priest attacked the enemy; details are unknown.[31] Langeron knows virtually nothing: neither was should be done, nor what the enemy does nor what do we do.

2 [14 September]. Completely quite.

3 [15 September]. We marched to Bautzen; Sacken’s corps at lamenz, Kaptzevich and Bubna[32] in the vicinity of Neustadt. Our advance guard occupied Bischofsverda. St. Priest is nearby at Drelnitz.

4-9 [16-21 September]. Completely peaceful.

10 [22 September]. Yesterday we received news that Napoleon was constructing bridges at Pirna and that his army was crossing to the right bank of the Elbe. Today our entire line of outposts was attacked; we are abandoning Bischofsverda. Napoleon himself arrived at Stolpen.

11 [23 September]. Our advance guard was driven back to Pfortgen; the cavalry moved to reinforce it but returned in the evening without taking part in the fighting. Two battalions of Westphalians were mowed down by Emmanuel.

12-13 [24-25 September]. Peace. On the 13th, the French retreated behind Bischofswerde and returned to position at Hartkau.

14 [26 September]. Our outposts advanced to Konigsbruck. There are rumors that King of Sweden had died.[33]

15 [27 September].  We left Bautzen and camped at Konigsbruck.

16 [28 September]. Marched to Ostrand.

17 [29 September]. Marched to Elsterwerda.

No.1 In the Battle of Lutzen, the French army was almost completely defeated, when at 5 p.m. Viceroy[34] arrived with 25,000 men from Leipzig and revived the battle. Nevertheless, we camped near the battlefield. 14 guns and many prisoners were captured. The following day, our army had to retreat because of lack of ammunition. The enemy had to do the same but in such haste that he left 60 guns at Weissenfels, out of which 40 were spiked. However, seeing that we were not there, [the French] returned. Marshal Bessieres[35] was killed.

No. 2. Our army [Army of Bohemia] approached Dresden and, instead of attacking town defended only by 6,000 men strong garrison, it wasted two days. At 4 p.m. on the 14th, the army finally attacked but that same afternoon Napoleon had arrived with his guard and repulsed [the Allies] with [considerable] losses. Meantime, Vandamme with 40,000 men moved to Konigstein, where we left only 3,000 men; he drove them back and thus forced the [Allied] army to retreat to Altenburg. There was a horrible carnage in the streets of Dresden: some 15,000 killed and wounded were counted on our side; the troops advanced as far as the palace. Moreau[36] lost both his legs, Ostermann - his hand.




Notes:

[1] General Henri Bertrand commanded the 4th corps.

[2] It was an action at Reippach.

[3] Battalion belonged to the Schlüsselburg Infantry Regiment.


[4] Johann Adolf Tielemann was a major general on the Saxon army and commanded a brigade in the 4th Cavalry Corps in 1812. After entering Russian service, he commanded the Frei Corps and distinguished himself throughout the 1813 Campaign.

[5] Schubert refers to an action at Gödau on 15 May, where Fedor Uvarov and Dmitry Uzefovich attacked Macdonald’s infantry.

[6] During the campaign in Saxony, George Emmanuel took part in the sieges of Modlin, Glogau and then commanded a detachment around Zwenkau. He was one of the first Allied commanders to cross the Elbe River and participated in minor actions prior to the battle of Bautzen, where he distinguished himself fighting Marshal Macdonald. During the armistice in the summer of 1813, he served on the Bohemian borders. For his actions in the spring of 1813, he was awarded the Order of St. Anna (1st class) and the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle (2nd class).

[7] Friedrich Kleist von Nollendorf commanded the 2nd Prussian Corps in 1813.

[8] Frederick Luis Marmont commanded the 6th Corps in 1813.

[9] Johann Karl Stadion was one of the leading Austrian statesmen of the era. In 1813, he served as an Austrian envoy to the Allied headquarters.

[10] Horace Francois Sebastiani commanded 2nd Cavalry Corps in 1813.

[11] Shubert refers to Raglovitz’s Bavarian Division of Oudinot’s 12th Corps.

[12] General Nikolay Rayevsky commanded the Grenadier Corps.

[13] Geraud-Christophe-Michel Duroc was one of Napoleon’s closest friends and advisers.


[14] Schubert refers to Count Peter Petrovich Pahlen II.

[15] The news about Davout’s wound was simply a rumor.

[16] Following disastrous battle of Bautzen, the Allies needed time to regroup. A contemporary wrote, “We could not turn down an armistice offer. Following the battle of Bautzen, chaos reigned in the army. Having changed the commander-in-chief, we need to give him time to reorganize army.” Sherbinin’s Notes, inn 1812 god… Voennie dnevniki (Moscow, 1990), 275.

[17] Schubert refers to the Pleiswitz Armistice between Russia, Prussia and France. Although Shubert’s describes it as “unfavorable,” the armistice was Napoleon’s major blunder since it allowed the Allies to regroup their forces and entice Austria to their side. It should be noted that Napoleon himself desperately need time to organize his own forces as well, following the disastrous campaign in Russia


[18] Korff’s command included the 3rd, 4th and 21st Dragoon and 1st and 2nd Horse Jager Divisions.


[19] Paisii Kaisarov served as a duty general to Kutuzov in late 1812 and in 1813, he commanded Cossack advance guard.

[20] Alexander yakovlevich Rudzevich served as chief of staff and commander of the advance guard of Langeron’s Corps in the Army of Silesia.

[21] Hans David Ludwig York, Graf von Wartenburg, commanded the 1st Prussian corps in the army of Silesia.

[22] Subert refers to the battle of Katzbach fought on 26 August 1813.

[23] Reference to the battle of Gross Beeren fought on 23 August 1813.

[24] Puthaud commanded a division of the 5th corps.

[25] Boleslav Friedrich Emmanuel Tauenzin von Wittenberg commanded the 4th Prussian Corps in the Army of North.

[26] Alexander Chernishev commanded a flying cavalry detachment.

[27] Alexander Osterman-Tolstoy commanded Guard Corps in the Army of Bohemia.

[28] Langeron was allowed to have a monogram of Emperor Alexander’s initials be embroidered on his uniform.

[29] The Poles were the 5th Corps of the French army.

[30] Reference to the Battle of Dennewitz.


[31] According to Journal of Military Operations, St. Priest engaged three enemy battalions and captured 300+ men.

[32] Ferdinand Bubna und Littitz was an Austrian diplomat who carried out several diplomatic missions to France in 1812-1813 and commanded light division of the Army of Bohemia’s advance guard.

[33] It was just a rumor since King of Sweden died in 1818.

[34] Shubert refers to Vice Roy Eugene.

[35] Jean Baptiste Bessieres  was killed on 1 May at Rippach, prior to the Battle of Lutzen.

[36] Jean Moreau distinguished himself during the Revolutionary Wars. He was disgraced by Napoleon and lived in exile in the U.S.  In 1813, he was invited to join the Allied army against Napoleon and served as military adviser to Emperor Alexander. He was mortally wounded by a cannonball near Dresden on 27 August.