Six Days in October - The Consolidated Dispatches of Marshal Lannes

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ATTENTION TO ORDERS!
Sender: Lannes – Day 1 0600
Time Sent: (UMPIRE)
Recipient: V Corps Divisions, Suchet, Gazan, Foucher
Time Received: (UMPIRE)
Unit Marching: V Corps, order of march to be Cavalry, Suchet’s Division, Gazan’s Division. Corps cavalry to scout, provide flank security, and escort the divisional/corps trains.
Route of March: By road from north from Schweinfurt to Meiningen then northwest, to the pass south of Gotha ("orange" pass)
Time to Spend Marching: 10 hours, 40KM
Expected Objective: Bivouac south of Meiningen
Rules of Engagement: If the enemy is encountered, Foucher’s cavalry is to screen the infantry until they are deployed on defensive ground. Suchet’s division is to deploy in contact with Gazan’s division in reserve. Foucher’s cavalry to deploy to the most open flank. In the event of defeat, or if the enemy is in overwhelming numbers, fall back on Schweinfurt. We are to hold "orange" pass until relieved by Davout.
Dispatches: On arrival at evening camp or encounter with enemy, dispatches to Napoleon, Murat, and Davout.

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RECEIVED -- 1500

From: Davout
To: Murat and Lannes
Time:  0600 Day 1
Message:

    Marshals!

    In accordance with our Emperor's orders, I am at your disposal.

    I will begin marching towards YELLOW today and expect to reach it
in around three days.  I expect to reach Cobourg tonight.

    Marshal Murat, would you prefer I moved straight on through
Yellow, or took a day to rest before crossing the pass?  One day's
rest south of the pass will enable my corps to move through the pass
fully rested; without the rest, I will arrive at Gotha with 20 fatigue
or more.

   Will we cross the pass at the same time, or as we are able?

   - Davout

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NB:  No response to this will be possible before 0800 September 11




Messages to Murat and Lannes, sent 1800 Day 1 (10 September)


Murat is expected to be on the Morningen-Eisenach road.
Lannes is expected to be on the Morningen-Schweinfurt road.
Messengers should enquire with forces at Morningen for an improved location.


Marshals!


  This evening finds the corps encamped just south of Cobourg.  We
will march north of Hildburghausen tomorrow.


   - Davout

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This Bonaparte is going to kill us.


Departing from camp along the Schweinfurt-Morningen road. I should reach the crossroads road to Orange pass today or early tomorrow. I will move to occupy Orange pass and hold the position until relieved by Davout, as per the Emperor's orders.

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To: Marshal Lannes (presumed location, somewhere on the road between Schweinfurt - Eisenach)

From: Marshal Murat

Time message sent: 0600, 11 September 1806

 

Marshal Lannes,

 

As of sunset last night, the lead elements of my Cavalry Reserve had reached the town of Hildburghausen and spent the night billeted there, with the rest of the corps bivouacked in column along the road south. This morning my corps will resume moving northwest, with the goal of reaching the crossroads north of Moiningen which heads towards Gotha by the end of the day. I shall be detaching a pair of divisions at Suhl (this is the small unnamed town lying directly south of the 'T' in Thuringe on your map) to perform reconnaissance and ensure that the Prussians do not make an unexpected thrust south from that direction.

 

I have not had any communications Marshal Davout in the past 24 hours, but I feel confident he is conforming to the movements the Emperor directed previously. However, if I have not had any contact with him by the end of the day, I will notify you as such and it may become necessary for the two of us to modify our scheme of maneuver.

 

Please keep my informed of the progress moving north, advising me where you halt your march this evening. I will endeavor to do the same.

 

Your comrade in arms,

Murat

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ATTENTION TO ORDERS!
Sender: Lannes – Day 2 0600
Time Sent: (UMPIRE)
Recipient: V Corps Divisions, Suchet, Gazan, Foucher
Time Received: (UMPIRE)
Unit Marching: V Corps, order of march to be Cavalry, Suchet’s Division, Gazan’s Division. Corps cavalry to scout, provide flank security, and escort the divisional/corps trains.
Route of March: By road from north from Schweinfurt to Meiningen then northwest, to the pass south of Gotha ("orange" pass)
Time to Spend Marching: 10 hours, 40KM
Expected Objective: Bivouac along the road from Morningen to Orange pass
Rules of Engagement: If the enemy is encountered, Foucher’s cavalry is to screen the infantry until they are deployed on defensive ground. Suchet’s division is to deploy in contact with Gazan’s division in reserve. Foucher’s cavalry to deploy to the most open flank. In the event of defeat, or if the enemy is in overwhelming numbers, fall back on Schweinfurt. We are to hold "orange" pass until relieved by Davout.
Dispatches: On arrival at evening camp or encounter with enemy, dispatches to Napoleon, Murat, and Davout.

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To: Marshal Lannes (presumed location, somewhere on the road between Schweinfurt - Eisenach)


From: Marshal Murat


Time message sent: 0600, 11 September 1806


 


Marshal Lannes,


 


As of sunset last night, the lead elements of my Cavalry Reserve had reached the town of Hildburghausen and spent the night billeted there, with the rest of the corps bivouacked in column along the road south. This morning my corps will resume moving northwest, with the goal of reaching the crossroads north of Moiningen which heads towards Gotha by the end of the day. I shall be detaching a pair of divisions at Suhl (this is the small unnamed town lying directly south of the 'T' in Thuringe on your map) to perform reconnaissance and ensure that the Prussians do not make an unexpected thrust south from that direction.


 


I have not had any communications Marshal Davout in the past 24 hours, but I feel confident he is conforming to the movements the Emperor directed previously. However, if I have not had any contact with him by the end of the day, I will notify you as such and it may become necessary for the two of us to modify our scheme of maneuver.


 


Please keep my informed of the progress moving north, advising me where you halt your march this evening. I will endeavor to do the same.


 


Your comrade in arms,


Murat

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RECEIVED 1330 hours 11th October


To: Marshal Lannes (presumed location, somewhere on the road between Schweinfurt - Eisenach)


From: Marshal Murat


Marshal Lannes,


As of sunset last night, the lead elements of my Cavalry Reserve had reached the town of Hildburghausen and spent the night billeted there, with the rest of the corps bivouacked in column along the road south. This morning my corps will resume moving northwest, with the goal of reaching the crossroads north of Moiningen which heads towards Gotha by the end of the day. I shall be detaching a pair of divisions at Suhl (this is the small unnamed town lying directly south of the 'T' in Thuringe on your map) to perform reconnaissance and ensure that the Prussians do not make an unexpected thrust south from that direction.


I have not had any communications Marshal Davout in the past 24 hours, but I feel confident he is conforming to the movements the Emperor directed previously. However, if I have not had any contact with him by the end of the day, I will notify you as such and it may become necessary for the two of us to modify our scheme of maneuver.


Please keep my informed of the progress moving north, advising me where you halt your march this evening. I will endeavor to do the same.


Your comrade in arms,


Murat

[JasonPratt]

This Bonaparte is going to kill us.

I wondered when/if you were going to launch your sig quote! 

Edited to add: I think you double-posted the previous dispatch, tho...

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Received 1630, 11th October


To Marshal Lannes
(believed south of Moiningen on the Schweinfurt road, moving north)
From Marshal Murat (vicinity Moiningen, moving north)
 
My dear comrade -
I have received reports from my light cavalry scouts that Prussian troops have been sighted in the vicinity of Ohrdruf. Based on their insignia, we believe this division sized enemy force (approximately 5000 infantry and 1000 cavalry) to be the Advanced Guard of Ruchel's Corps.
 
I have detached two divisions to keep this force under observation and am continuing north with my main body to scout Eisenach.
 
Please advise your current status. I have not received any communications from you since the start of the campaign and it is vital that we coordinate our movements.
 
- Murat

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To Marshal Murat
(believed northwest of Moiningen on the Moiningen-Eisenach road, moving north)
From Marshal Lannes (north of Moiningen, encamped along the Moiningen-Eisenach Road)


My dear Marshal Murat -


I hope my previous dispatches have caught up with you. Hopefully they are not sitting on some orderly's desk, forgotten or mistaken.


I am encamped along the Moiningen-Eisenach road. At my current rate of march, I should reach the pass designated ORANGE tomorrow by midday.


I have had no communication from Davout and can only estimate his location. I believe he must be moving up the road from Coburg toward Moiningen. If so, a concentration of our wing south of Ohrdruf would be possible if necessary.


Unless you decide otherwise, I will continue according to the Emperor's orders.


Lannes

[panzerde]

This Bonaparte is going to kill us.

I wondered when/if you were going to launch your sig quote! 

Edited to add: I think you double-posted the previous dispatch, tho...

No, I really did get it twice!

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To Marshal Davout
(believed along the Coburg to Moiningen road, moving northwest)
From Marshal Lannes (north of Moiningen, encamped along the Moiningen-Eisenach Road)


Davout -


I am encamped along the Moiningen-Eisenach road. At my current rate of march, I should reach the pass designated ORANGE tomorrow by midday.


Murat's cavalry have scouted out a Prussian division, apparently some of Ruchel's men, near Ohrdruf. He has them under observation while he moves to scout Eisenach.


Please advise your position and intent to Murat and myself.


Lannes

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Received 1630, 11th October


To Marshal Lannes
(believed south of Moiningen on the Schweinfurt road, moving north)
From Marshal Murat (vicinity Moiningen, moving north)
 
My dear comrade -
I have received reports from my light cavalry scouts that Prussian troops have been sighted in the vicinity of Ohrdruf. Based on their insignia, we believe this division sized enemy force (approximately 5000 infantry and 1000 cavalry) to be the Advanced Guard of Ruchel's Corps.
 
I have detached two divisions to keep this force under observation and am continuing north with my main body to scout Eisenach.
 
Please advise your current status. I have not received any communications from you since the start of the campaign and it is vital that we coordinate our movements.
 
- Murat

[JasonPratt]

Ha!

Be sure not to go past the end of Day 2 (and maybe preliminary discussion early Day 3 before moves), so that we don't spoil Cyrano and Brant's video AAR series. Then of course we can catch up as they go along.