Six Days in October - The Consolidated Dispatches of Marshal Lannes

Started by panzerde, May 14, 2018, 06:20:47 PM

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JasonPratt

And this is why I gave West Wing latitude to operate totally on their own recognizance (at least once they secured the passes and oriented on Ehrfurt).  O0

That said, I'm confused why you couldn't get to the fighting on time, PD. I know Murat had to loop around farthest west, but he not only got there in time he ended up positioned to rear-around Ruchel. I really would have thought you and Davout would be pincering Ohrdruf at about the same time and then advancing in parallel north with each other, perhaps you toward Gotha and Davout following the river valley toward Ehrfurt (and flanking Gotha with Murat looping around behind).  ???

Maybe I need to watch the videos again to see how the march developed...
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panzerde

Quote from: JasonPratt on May 16, 2018, 07:38:28 PM
And this is why I gave West Wing latitude to operate totally on their own recognizance (at least once they secured the passes and oriented on Ehrfurt).  O0

That said, I'm confused why you couldn't get to the fighting on time, PD. I know Murat had to loop around farthest west, but he not only got there in time he ended up positioned to rear-around Ruchel. I really would have thought you and Davout would be pincering Ohrdruf at about the same time and then advancing in parallel north with each other, perhaps you toward Gotha and Davout following the river valley toward Ehrfurt (and flanking Gotha with Murat looping around behind).  ???

Maybe I need to watch the videos again to see how the march developed...


Road congestion. The combination of V Corps and Murat's cavalry passing through Gotha, and even prior to that on the road north to Gotha slowed me to a crawl. V Corps essentially sat on the road south of Gotha for a day, and then had a heck of a time getting to Erfurt. 


Those roads completely suck. Cyrano found some dioramas when he was in Germany specifically demonstrating changes in the road net in that region from just prior to the Seven Years War through the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Frederick invested a bunch of money and improved them dramatically...but they still sucked.


Mostly though, the grousing was Lannes being Lannes. He was basically a peasant that had been made a Marshal and he had a reputation for being "coarse." Interestingly he was also Napoleon's closest confidant among the Marshals up to his death, being the only one who could address him using the familiar tenses. He was also probably the hardest charging of the Marshals outside of Murat, and would not have been pleased not to have been in at the kill. Murat was being so nice, it kind of fell to Davout and I to act in character...

"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

JasonPratt

ICEBREAKER THESIS CHRONOLOGY! -- Victor Suvorov's Stalin Grand Strategy theory, in lots and lots of chronological order...
Dawn of Armageddon -- narrative AAR for Dawn of War: Soulstorm: Ultimate Apocalypse
Survive Harder! -- Two season narrative AAR, an Amazon Blood Bowl career.
PanzOrc Corpz Generals -- Fantasy Wars narrative AAR, half a combined campaign.
Khazâd du-bekâr! -- narrative dwarf AAR for LotR BfME2 RotWK campaign.
RobO Q Campaign Generator -- archived classic CMBB/CMAK tool!

panzerde

DISPATCH -- DAVOUT to LANNES -- 0100, 15th October
SENT 2300, 14th October

To: Marshals Lannes, Murat, and Bernadotte
From Marshal Davout, Erfurt

Comrades -- We rejoice in the news of your victory over Rachel!

We have had contact with Brunswick's forces - specifically Arnim's
infantry and Scharnhorst's cavalry - in the vicinity of Weimar.  I
suspect all of our forces are tiring, and Brunswick outnumbers us on
most counts.

I suggest a threefold change in plan:

1) Tomorrow, we converge and annihilate Saxe's division.  Our combined
forces should ensure a positive outcome and thus complete the rout of
Rachel's corps, freeing us to conduct operations towards Weimar.

2) On the day after tomorrow, rest and reorganize the troops; and make
use of the stocks of food and ammunition in the Erfurt depot.

3a) On the third day, we all march on Brunswick.  Our combined force
is roughly equal to his; without Murat's corps we will be heavily
outnumbered in cavalry.  During the second day we can come up with a
plan of maneuver for the march east.

or

3b) Use either Lannes' corps or mine to defend the river line east of
Erfurt, while the other corps travels with Murat to make a stronger
left hook.

If we adopt the first two parts of this suggestion, then we could meet
during the troops' rest day in order to discuss the next step in
detail.

- Davout
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde


DISPATCH -- DAVOUT to LANNES, 0100, 15th October

SENT 2300, 14th October

To: General Friant, Marshals Lannes and Murat From Marshal Davout Could you inform me of where Saxe's division might be in relation to Erfurt? I am in the town but my pickets have not reported any contact. - Davout
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

Dispatch - Lannes to Davout

To: Marshals Davout, Murat, and Bernadotte
From: Marshal Lannes, west of Erfurt

Marshal Davout,

As you may have ascertained from my earlier dispatch, I am unsure of the location of Saxe's division. I intend for my cavalry to locate these troops as quickly as possible while I concentrate the rest of my corps near Erfurt.

I concur with your plan to concentrate our wing of the army at Erfurt to complete the destruction of Saxe, and then, after reorganizing for a day, move on Weimar. In the absence of further instructions from the main body of the army, I do no think it prudent for us to separate and possible face overwhelming enemy force piecemeal and tired.

Let us concentrate, destroy Saxe, and reorganize.

Lannes
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

Dispatch - Lannes to V Corps and Attachments

To: V Corps, LaSalle, d'Hautpol, Morand
Copies to Davout, Murat, and Bernadotte

General,

We will move up our time of execution for the day's orders from 6AM to 4AM. It is my intent to find and destroy Saxe's division as quickly as possible tomorrow.

General Foucher, Marshal Davout reports his corps to be in possession of Erfurt. Send a patrol to Erfurt immediately to establish contact. Also send a patrol north of Erfurt to establish contact with Marshal Murat. Report to me when this is done.

Lannes
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

DISPATCH -- DAVOUT to LANNES -- 0100, 15th October

SENT 2300, 14th October

To: Marshals Lannes, Murat, and Bernadotte
From Marshal Davout, Erfurt

Comrades -- We rejoice in the news of your victory over Rachel!

We have had contact with Brunswick's forces - specifically Arnim's
infantry and Scharnhorst's cavalry - in the vicinity of Weimar.  I
suspect all of our forces are tiring, and Brunswick outnumbers us on
most counts.

I suggest a threefold change in plan:

1) Tomorrow, we converge and annihilate Saxe's division.  Our combined
forces should ensure a positive outcome and thus complete the rout of
Rachel's corps, freeing us to conduct operations towards Weimar.

2) On the day after tomorrow, rest and reorganize the troops; and make
use of the stocks of food and ammunition in the Erfurt depot.

3a) On the third day, we all march on Brunswick.  Our combined force
is roughly equal to his; without Murat's corps we will be heavily
outnumbered in cavalry.  During the second day we can come up with a
plan of maneuver for the march east.

or

3b) Use either Lannes' corps or mine to defend the river line east of
Erfurt, while the other corps travels with Murat to make a stronger
left hook.

If we adopt the first two parts of this suggestion, then we could meet
during the troops' rest day in order to discuss the next step in
detail.

- Davout
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

DISPATCH -- FOUCHER to LANNES, 0300, 15th October

SENT 0100, 15th October

My Lord Marshal,

My forces rest on the overland route between the Gotha-Erturt Road and the Erfurt-Weisensee Road.  The men remain in fine spirits but the fatigue of yesterday's battles has begun to tell.

Vive L'Empereur!!
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

DISPATCH FROM CONTROL -- 0800, 15th October

The "sound of the guns" can be heard unmistakably from the direction of Erfurt.S
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

Dispatch - Lannes to V Corps and Attachments

To: V Corps, LaSalle, d'Hautpol, Morand
Copies to Davout, Murat, and Bernadotte

Generals!

Marshal Davout and I have joined each other in Erfurt. His corps is moving north to join in the engagement we have recently heard there. General Morand should rejoin III Corps and Marshal Davout. The remainder of V Corps and attached cavalry is to move north along the Erfurt-Weisensee road, remaining in contact with III Corps and seeking to join General Foucher's cavalry.

My headquarters will remain in proximity to Marshal Davout.
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

Message to Vialannes

To: General Vialannes
From: Marshal Davout
Time: 0900 15 October

General!

My thanks for your reports yesterday on Arnim and your unfortunate
engagement with Scharnhorst.

Could you enlighten me further on the location of these events?

Where is your force now?

If nothing else, I am interested to know which side of the river (the
one between Erfurt and Weimar) these events occured and where you are
at this time.

- Marshal Davout
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

Message FROM Viallannes.

Received 1000, 15th October
Sent 0930, 15th October

My Lord Marshal,

My forces rapidly approach Erfurt from the East along the main Erfurt-Weimar Road.

The men of our last engagement were certain;y of Scharnhorst's division.  Our engagement with them was only a few kilometers to the South and West of Weimar.  At last we saw them, they seem to have retired to within their piquets outside Weimar.

Your Servant,

Viallannes
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

DISPATCH FROM MURAT -- Shortly after 0900, 15th October

I felt I was being overly restrictive by not getting this to you both sooner.  At some point, i suspect, a courier would mention that he is JUST North of Erfurt.


Gentlemen, I have excellent news!

The Prussian division of General Saxe has been shattered just outside the northern gate of Erfurt. Even now it is in flight to the northeast. I have sent a courier to the Emperor notifying him of this development.

General Grouchy's division of dragoons has been ordered to follow and harry Saxe's retreat. However, I have directed him to only proceed a maximum of 15km from my current location before breaking off his pursuit and returning to me here.

With this development the whole of Ruchel's corps is now either captured or routed. I do not expect the remnants of his command to be able to pose any further impediment to our movements for many days.

The way should now be clear for the two of you to advance in concert against the city of Weimar. I urge you and your men to do with all possible haste so that we can keep the enemy off balance! When you arrive at Weimar I am optimistic that you may encounter Marshal Bernadotte's corps, who I am hopeful is advancing upon that location from the southeast per my earlier suggestion to him for that maneuver. If, as I suspect, the city of Weimar is defended by Brunswick's corps, then the three of you together should have more than sufficient force to eject him from that place.

As previously discussed, it is my current intention to remain with my corps here, just north of Erfurt, for the remainder of the day. My men have been heavily engaged with the enemy for the past two days and are in serious need of rest and an opportunity to reorganize. Unless I receive word from you to the contrary, my plan for tomorrow is to begin the northward sweep directed by the Emperor, through Weisensee and Eisleben, to Halle. I will endeavor to keep you apprised of my movements.

Best of luck with your future actions.

Your comrade in arms,
- Murat
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres

panzerde

Davout, with Murat and Lannes; near Erfurt

So, with orders in hand, it's time to think through contingencies.

Where might the full enemy array be?

They are believed to have begun deployed in a series of corps-scale
areas, roughly east to west along the Gotha-Gera line.  This is an
assumption, not a fact.

We can presume for now that the enemy did not know what passes we
might use, or where we might concentrate our forces, and thus it would
be necessary to provide some form of cover for all of them.

Therefore, I believe it is unlikely that their forces have
significantly shifted from that initial position.

If this is all true, we have largely destroyed the left of the enemy's line.

In addition, it means we are likely moving into the left of Brunswick's line.

However, suppose the enemy is withdrawing, trying to concentrate his
forces neat Halle or Leipzig.  This might explain Ruchel's attempts to
move eastwards, and likewise Brunswick's.

If this is the case, we should not expect stiff resistance, and should
be looking for signs of the direction of any attempted withdrawal t
confirm or deny it.

A worst-case scenario:  They have concentrated north of Weimar, and
will attack into our flank as we advance in, outnumbering us and
rolling us up.  Indicators of this:  The enemy attacks out of the area
north of Weimar.   I believe this enemy COA is highly unlikely, as
concentrating there would presumably leave his flank open to the rest
of out forces in the Hof Gap.


Brunswick is presumably deciding what to do in light of our contact
with him yesterday.  On the one hand, his cavalry defeated mine.  On
the other hand, he presumably has some inkling that Ruchel's corps has
been shattered.  Today, my cavalry withdrew from contact with him.
Will he figure that we are plunging north and northeast, to sever his
lines of communication?  Or will he figure that our next action is to
crash into his position at Weimar?  Perhaps he sees this as an
opportunity to bring his numbers to bear, emboldened by his recent
success?

In either case, I believe he will seek to hold Weimar.  In either
case, I believe holding Weimar secures our ability to operate west of
the Ilm.

If he feels threatened and unsure, he will likely withdraw on Jena or
Nambourg, and we can pursue from Weimar.  If he attacks, holding
Weimar gives us a defensive strongpoint at the river.


What if...   lady luck goes against us in the battle?  We will fall
back on Erfurt, screened by Murat's cavalry.  Murat can operate as a
mailed fist, significantly outnumbering any of the smaller divisional
cavalry forces the Prussians field, and potentially smashing them in
detail in order to deter an advance (or, for that matter, to ensure
ours.)


What are your thoughts?
"This damned Bonaparte is going to get us all killed" - Jean Lannes, 1809

Castellan -  La Fraternite des Boutons Carres