Möckern, October , First day of the Battle of Leipzig

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As the Allied armies advanced from three axes towards Napoleon's central position at Leipzig , a series of desperate battles broke out with which the emperor hoped to keep his enemies separated. After Murat's defeat at the Battle of Liebertwolkwitz on October , south of Leipzig, approaching from the north, Marshal Blücher 's Silesian Army , which included General Yorck 's Prussian corps , encountered the French who were They were stationed on a gentle plateau near the town of Möckern , on October There, Marshal Marmont 's men , supported by Dąbrowski's Poles , awaited the enemies: savage fighting in the streets marked the battle, as the French and Prussians fought house to house. Commander Von Hiller , who commanded the first Prussians to attack the town, describes the enthusiasm that spurred his forces that day: «So I attacked the town again.

They were all burning with desire to deal with the enemy, and when I proclaimed that the fate of Germany would be decided that day, they rushed forward with loud cheers, advancing over the bodies of their fallen comrades. I was forced to B2B Email List draw on my reserve, the West Prussian Grenadiers, but, despite all the rage and courage of my men, it was impossible to silence the fire of the enemy battalions inside the houses. However, I had the pleasure of watching the enemy advance […] turn and run before the courage of my men. While doing so, I observed the progress of the rest of the corps brigades. The numerical superiority of the Allies at the Battle of Möckern took a heavy toll on Marshal Marmont's men. The explosion of an ammunition cart in the middle of their large battery caused the loss of a good number of French guns and, taking advantage of the confusion produced, the Prussians conquered their positions.



Marmont was forced to retreat late in the afternoon, having himself been wounded in the melee. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. battle of leipzig Map of the movements planned by Napoleon for October , , frustrated by the arrival of Marshal Blücher's Silesian Army. Map contained in Desperta Ferro Modern History No. : Napoleon against Europe . The providential arrival of Blücher to Möckern altered Napoleon's battle plans for that October , which involved concentrating his forces in a devastating attack on the Bohemian Army in the Wachau sector, south of Leipzig. The Battle of Wachau raged fiercely that day and the next, but the Prussian presence in the north and the resulting diversion of troops allowed Prince Schwarzemberg to withstand the Napoleonic onslaught. The terrible battle of Leipzig would continue for three more days.