A Detailed Account of the Battle of Austerlitz

by Karl von Stutterheim

The loss of the French army must also, necessarily, have been very considerable. The fire, at the commencement of the action, was too warmly kept up, not to have done great execution; still, however, the French force was by no means diminished in the same proportion as that of the allies. The Generals who were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners are already well known.

FOOTNOTES:

[10] Note by a French officer.—Marshal Bernadotte was never seen till the day of the battle. Two days before he had rested on his arms behind Brunn, and the following day he took post in the rear of the army, near Lattein. The French generals object in this disposition was, not only to avoid fatiguing this corps as much as possible, but also, not to pass the defile of Bellowitz; for not intending to risk an action, unless the enemy committed great errors, he had determined on retiring another day's march to the rear, if the enemy manœuvred with skill. It was not his wish to engage a general action with a superior army, if it were well posted. The victory might have been doubtful, and above all, too destructive.

It was, therefore, that the divisions repassed the defiles, each day in proportion as the enemy's plans became apparent, and the faults he was about to commit became more probable. Besides, if instead of turning the right of the French army, (which was what the French general rather wished) the Russians had brought on an affair among the mountains, by turning the left. The position of the head-quarters, behind Kritchen, (which was always occupied by the French) was the point, from whence, by a wheel to the left, it was the most easy to move diagonally in rear of the Santon, upon the little hills towards the left.

The movement that may have been seen on our left, was nothing else than the posting the divisions of Suchet and Caffarelli to support the Santon, because it was apprehended the enemy might, in the course of the day, attempt to get possession of that height, which was the key to the emperor's projects. He would not allow the enemy to occupy positions too near to Girshikowitz and Puntowitz, which might have prevented the army from forming. For the attack, which had been planned by the emperor, particularly depended on the rapidity with which the centre should march on the heights of Pratzen.

[11] Note by a French officer.—This plan was faulty in every point of view. Supposing the emperor not to have attacked the heights of Pratzen, merely keeping possession of the Santon, and the village of Girshikowitz, he would have made an effort in the centre, when the enemy attacked him, and the left of the enemy, once arrived at the wood of Turas, was by that divided from his centre.

All this serves to prove, that many men are capable of manœuvring 15 or 20,000 men, but very few know how to derive all the possible advantage from an army of 80,000.

[12] Many misfortunes of the allies appear to have originated in attacking with small corps where they had the power of attacking in force. It is obvious, that if one Battalion is inadequate to the service on which it is sent, it will not only suffer severely in the attempt, but that very attempt will apprize the enemy of the intention, and enable him to reinforce. Whereas, by at once attacking with numbers, all opposition is borne down, and the defence, from not being protracted, is generally less destructive to the assailants: wherever the French make an attack, it is in force; and therefore they usually succeed; with the additional advantage, that they are enabled by those very numbers to maintain themselves in what they have acquired. Translator.

[13] Either there were two generals of this name in the Russian army, or there must be some mistake; since, in a former part of this work, General Stutterheim says, "The corps under Essen was at Kremsir on the day of the battle, and was of no sort of use."—Translator.

[14] Note by a French Officer.—It is very true, that the Austrians fought well, as asserted by the Austrian officer; as also that the regiment of Salzbourg particularly distinguished itself, and lost a great number of men by the bayonet.