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Austelritz
Austerlitz 1805
Early morning.
Lt D'offens walked with his troops lagging behind him.He barked orders and immediately the troops straigthend themselves up.He shook his head,today was not going to be a good day.He wore his shakov and tightfisted the grips on it,he then walked on as he saw the Artillery,the famed cannon of Napoleon Bonaparte,their Emperor.
The Sun shone brightly,extending it's arms over the grassy field.It seemed colours exploded everywhere as there were blue coated,green coated,and white coated soldiers walking and patrolling their camps.Muskets were held up like long cannons ready to fire.
Over where D'offens walked.Napoleon Bonaparte was dressed in his dark blue coat wearing his Bicorn hat.His Marshall's stood alongside him,some were preparing for battle in the gray mist.Others talked as Napoleon stared at the enemy line.He could see the Austrain and Russian Infantry lining up in the enemy camps.Marshall Soult,dressed in a blue and white coat,with yellow decorating on the back,his black bircorn hat saddled perfectly on his head,his arm behind his back holding a sword.Many of them were dressed in a similar way.
''Sire it seems strange doesn't it?'' asked Soult.
''What,them?Soult,they are worth nothing.The leaders of the army are fools and weak tacticians.Hannibal himself led his army across the alps and managed to subdue rome for 16 years,a shame he was defeated,but he was a good general,damn ,Soult,I would have served the general no matter what''.
''Of course Sire,but the army over there outnumber's us''.
''You worry too much Soult.The Austrians ,we fought them in Italy,in Marengo,Our Marshall's have defeated them before,the Russians,they are foolish,but they make excellent troops,after all,they come from the north''.
''But Sire,if you may what is it we're supposed to do?'' replied a voice,calm and relaxed.
Napoleon smiled as he swept his back and saw Marshall Louis-Nicolas Davout,he was a damn good Marshall,Napoleon thought,and one of the few remaining good generals since the revolution.
''All is certain,Davout.Do not worry.Do you have the seven thousand troops I placed you in command?''
''Of course Sire''.
''And they are all properly....'' Napoleon muttered.
''Yes,sire,they are all trained and eager for a fight''.
Napoleon smiled again and shaked his head.
''The Imperial Guard wants a fight aslo,But I will not do it yet,the men are eager,the whole army is eager!''.
Jean Lannes,another of Napoleon's Marshall's and a personal friend walked up to Napoleon.
''Sire,I agree with Davout,the men have been waiting for too long''.
''Lannes,Massena and everyone here!'' Napoleon turned his back to face his marshalls and Military officers.The Guards stood still at the camp.
''My fellow Marshalls,this battle should be recorded in History!Never before have I seen such brave french courage take over!In the Middle ages you defeated the english!In the 17th century you were powerful,but now I see this,this,is a true example of what the french truly are!Never again should we be called cowards!I may be the Corsican tyrant as they call me in England,but what they say are lies!Lies!Do you not remember Agincourt?500 Englishmen against 40,000 Frenchmen!A wonder the English won.But that should not be of mere importance as 500 Spartans faced an army of 1 million Persians,Remember this day!We will win!Those soldiers of the Russian army are brave and deserve respect!''
Napoleon had talked on but he had not noticed that the soilders in the camp that everybody was listening to what he was saying.
''But they are led by babbling infants and weak leaders!We have won victories!I would rather go into battle than face cowardice!If none of you want to join me,then go!If you want to join me in this great battle we are going to face today,then come!Come!And defeat the enemy!For France is eternal!We are her sons!Now to battle! Napoleon roared
Then a great cheer came from the french army.Napoleon was shocked.The soliders had listened to what he was saying.Napoleon swept his back again to face the enemy in front of him.The soldiers, artillery and everyone was getting ready.
''See?Soult?This is the first step in winning a battle''.
The Marshals bowed at Napoleon.
''General Legrand!''
''Yes sire''
''We go to plan,form up your troops,and to the rest of you,be prepared!I don't want the enemy seeing us strong!We will show them that!Now to a bloody day!''.
Another cheer came up.The Marshals left,except Soult.
''Sire we will win''.
Napoleon laughed.
''Of course we will,Soult,who says we can't?''
Soult bowed.
Over where the French Camp lay.A great yellow eagle swayed over the sky.It flew ,glidining across the fast wind as it flapped the wings.It flew to the Russian-Austrain camp.
Alexander the frist of russia stood still,His greeen suit buttoned with gold circles.His bicorn hat was well-adjusted in his head.Francis II of the holy roman empire moved his horse around.
The Austrian troops moved along.Some in patrols,their suits were white,in a royal white style.Their battalion sergeants wore the traditional style of the bircorn hat of the 17th century.Muskets stood high in both camps.Bayonets were fixed on and sharpened.They wore royal white suits with black shakovs
In the Russian camp however stood men from the aristocratic circles.Most of them senoir forces.The Russian army had hats like workers in a factory but these ones were tilted into a square like shape.Many of them still worked in the Anicen Regime.The Russian army of course was green,comeplety green
Alexander shook his head.
''Francis you are a fool''.
Francis scwoeld in anger.
''I am not!''.
''You are.Now I want a full frontal assualt on Napoleon's forces,yet you say we should stay and follow Franz's plan ''.
General Kutuzov was old,his sideburns resembled that of a British person.But he was the prince of Russia,so was Bagaration,the other commander leaind the russian forces.Count von Bennigsen resembled a old english Marshall.
The Russian commanders stood still on their horses,many obsevered Napoleon Bonaparte's army.
''Napoleon....'' muttered Kutuzov.
''We shall see what Napoleon is,Prince Kutuzov.I need to see how he managed in Italy to defeat the austrain army in Italy.Two many people lose to him because they do not fight him directly,this gives him the advantage''. Alexander replied and then closed his telescope.
''But Napoleon is far better than this.I would not underestimate this usurper who calls himself Emperor,His weak flank looks good to attack,but that is fatal,I suggest now ,now we attack!''. Alexander said in a hurry
''Because we can demolish his left flank and other flanks,attack now!''.
But no one replied as they saw Napoleon's army was already waiting for them.
Francis laughed.
''See,Sire?We need to attack the weak flank first,Napoleon has already weakened his left flank way too much,he is a fool.No General would do that,only the persains would.Now let us hurry Alexander,we don't want to delay Napoleon any longer ''.
Alexander scwoled but said nothing.
The Russian/Austrains troops moved out of the camp.Many of their officers were shouting orders at them.But from the hill where they had chosen the battle,Napoleon intended to draw their troops out from the mountains.It may be a good place to in a battle to be on a hill,but you must not let your guard down.
They saw Napoleon's troops,the ones that had blude suits drapped with white in the behind.The Village of Telnitz was weakly defended.With only the 3rd line of french regiments to defend it.
The allied coloum attacked Telnitz.Many of the french infantry stood in battle formation and fired.Some opted for the sniper position.Bayonts shot sparks of fire and smoke.Joacban Haere,a soilder of the 3rd regiment was nervous,but his colonel did not show any emotion.
''Sir,we should withdraw!We can't defend the village with not enough troops!'' said Joacban
His colonel glared furiuosuly,making Jocaban stand down.
''You fool!We're supposed to defend the village,those are the Emperor's orders!You're french for god's sake,now reload your weapon and don't let any russian in!You all get that? '' he roared,so his men could hear him.
''Yes sir!'' they replied back.
Jocacban new his Colonel was right.He loaded his weapon and fired at an oncoming russian coming in.
The Colonel laughed.
''Do not worry soilder!!This is your first taste of battle!Ha,when Napoleon wasn't there I fought in the ancien regime! '' he laughed as his pistol shot another russian fusiler pointing his gun at him.
Joacban raised his eyebrows in suprise
''Really Sir?''
''Of course,But I was no aristocrat,oh no I was a peasent,I moved up.But yes,we fought gloruis battles against the prussians and the austrains ''.
''Really sir? ''
The Colonel pasued,lost in hsi thoughts,then he regained himself and looked at Joacban.
''Come on lad,don't ask any more qeustions,experince battle first!Then I will tell you more,now get up you lazy dog! '' roared the colonel
The Colonel pointed to a Russian nearly plunging his bayonet into Jocaban's heart.e had a racoon hat,stuffed fur,his green coat protected him well,The Colonel shot the russian in the heart.The Russian fell back,breaking his back.
The colonel once again looked at Joacban.
''I have saved your life,solider,now bring up the cannons!''
''Yes sir''.
Joacban went to get the cannon.
What he saw shocked him.The Russian cavarly had attacked the cannon.He looked everywhere,all sides the Russians had surronded the village.There was no hope,until he saw a group of soldiers from squares,then he saw as they shot the indiviual Russian Cavarly,the soilders shot from their muskets and any cavarlyman that attempted to charge in was hacked by the sharp bonyet.
But It was not enough,he knew,slowly more and more russians were coming in.The Austrains had breaked the southern side.Only Volitguires(light infantry) were defending that part of the village.
Then a loud roar came in.
Joacban saw a large regiment of royal blue coated soliders with black shakovs and white stripes ,their held their guns high and fired.Joacban saw the bald head of the famous marshall,Davout.Davout watched from his horse,His IV corps were doing the work.
The Russians fell in numbers.Joacban immideatly ran for cover.
The Colonel shouted
''Here they come men!Don't let the russians overwhelm you!Now shoot! ''
He held his sword and pistol high.
The Russian infantry were being cut down by Davout's troops.It was a disatser,the Austrains had already gained sucess but too much of the Allied column was retreating for they could not stand the fast fring of the French infantry.The French were winning the battle
The French Infantry loaded and fired.Invidiual austrain infantry took cover,but could not form in a line.The left side of the russian infantry formed into a line of two.They fired back another volley.
The French infantry of the the first line fell down from the sharp firing from that volley,at that moment,grape shot hit the first line of French infantry.They fell down,groaning.The Second line loaded their guns.While the 3rd line came and fired at the Russians.The arid bitter smell of gunpowder reached high into the air.
For Ermenegilde Le Boussian't,a newly recruited Fusilier of line infantry ,it sickened him as he sucked in the awful smell of gunpowder,on his mouth ,it tasted as if it were from the gutters.Alexandre,an expreinced veteran solider looked at Ermenegilde.
'' Soilder!You tasting the foul air? ''
Ermenegilde nodded
Alexandre laughed
''Don't worry,you're a young'un ,we'll get you in battle shape no time! Now forget the smell and fire! ''
Ermenegilde nodded
''Yes sir ''
''' Good ''
Alexandre went back to his regiment.Ermenegilde hurried to the 4th regiment waiting for other soliders to replace the already crumbling
But for the Russian infantry did not want to give up,their infantry came in numbers to support their fallen comrades.The 3rd,4th,5th regiments of Russian infantry advanced in numbers.The Russian Seargants shouted ''Keep in line!! '' as those same orders were repeated over and over again .
Meanwhile Francis eyed the action through his telescope.
He shook his head.
His second in command,Robert Von Iasch was hurrying up to him
''Estemmed emperor '' he panted
Francis gave him a nod,to indicate that he could speak
''We're losing the battle!Telznitz is a disaster!We must send some troops now! ''
Alexander looked at Robert
''I'll send in the troops aslo,meanwhile I want my arteliiary firing at Napoleon's center! ''
Francis smiled,know knowing that he was getting proper help
Robert bowed
'Yes ,my lord's.
Francis looked at Robert
''Robert ,send in the resevres ,the Cezch regiments are to advance and attack Napoleon's centre with russian support,aslo......send in my personal favourite regiment,the Emperor's own ,hmm I like that,do send them in ''
Robert bowed and galloped his horse towards the resevers
Alexander's troops advanced with the Czech regiements.
Napoleon's troops ,commanded by Soult waited for the russian infantry to come down the hill.
''Load!'' barked the commander of the French regiments
The Soliders loaded
''Aim! ''
The Soliders aimed
''Fire!!! ''
The French infantry hailed a storm of white powder.Smoke came from the bayonets,bullets sparkign fire hit the russian infantry,but only by a quarter,it did not reach far.
The Chaussers(light infantry) hurried quickly and put up stockades.
The Czech regiments stopped and readied their guns,they aimed at a straight point towards the French infantry.
Soult seeing that they would be decimated ,shouted
''Quick ,fire the cannon ! ''
The French artiearlly fired canistor shot
The men of the austrain regiments fell down.The Russian infantry replaced the fallen line of the austrain infnatry and fired from their muskets.
Fire was exchanged from both sides,The Austrians being a little slow,but Napoleon's troops fired with ferocity.They then charged,each stabbing bayonet into each other's stomach.Some stopped to fire.One French solider used the back of his musket and slammed it in the Russian's head.Some were locked as guns blocked each other.A few used the gun as a circle,each carefully moving their ground ,then lurching their muskets.
The Commanders shot by pistol.The Sergeants by sword.Each French sergeant was facing a Austrian or Russian sergeant,and cannon fire was exchanged,screams,shots,fire,a loud bang of noise was coming from the hills.
Napoleon moved his horse
''Well Soult,did you not see what I said? ''
Soult shouted for he was in the thick of battle
''Sire,what's that you say? ''
'''Look at your right,there's a gap there,Fill it up now! '' Napoleon pointed to the large gap that Austrain-Russian infantry had left.
''Of course Sire! ''
Soult gaoplled his horse
''Men ,follow me! ''
A group of twenty men followed Soult to fill the gap,before anyone realized it,The French had broken the line and divided the two sections,the Austrains on the other side,The Russians to the left.
Then it was chaos.The Austrains were going to retreat as they saw the deep ranks of the blue-coated French Soliders.As they saw no hope in fighting them as they would be easily cut down.
The Russians however were disorganized.But they kept on fighting indivually ,French soliders were cutting down the Russian and the Austrain infantry.
Alexander seeing the hopeless situtaion,turned his head to Count von Bennigsen .
''Commanders!Launch a full attack !We must break the french center! '' He shouted.
The Russian commanders barked orders.The Main Austrain center had already been drvien from the mountain and were charging at the french center.The Russians were firing from their cannon.
Napoleon smiled.
This was what he had intended,total chaos.
He turned his head to see Telznitz being taken back.Marshall Davout had won the battele,perhaps,Napoleon thought,he is the Iron Marshall of France.
The Colonel saw Marshall Davout running towards him.
''Colonel,you are to immdeately attack that massive centre now! ''
Marshall Davout pointed out to the advancing line of Austrain and Russian line.
The Colonel nodded and turned to face his men
''We attack them now!!!!! ''
The infantry charged at the enemy centre from the village,the colonel getting in the front of everybody.Marshall Davout raised his sword and rode high,with the hilly mounted French cuirassiers charging behind him.The Russian and the Austrain cavarly charged from the high green mountains to meet the French cavalry,both came closer and as they charged into each other,swords fell,men clashed,men died,horses neighed and moved fast.
The French Chassuers rode high,aiming their pistols at the Russian cavalry.But some fell to a fate,when they clashed with heavily armed cavalry.Heavily armoured French carabiners under the command of Marshal Jean Baptiste met the Russian hussars.More Calvary attacked the right centre of the Austrains
It was chaos.The Russian infantry had formed squares and were firing to the French cavalry.The Austrians were heavily low in morale.Many of the French Commanders had not fallen,most of them had survied,and their cavarly was smashing the austrain center.Mamelukes from Egypt charged shouting allah u akbar,the I and II squadron of Chassueres supporting them.Capitiane Dahlmann and Capitiane Clement crushed into a Austrain square.The French Cavarly were winning the battle by the minute.What had looked like a reinforcing army was now chaos.
Men fired from everywhere,most of the French infantry still wore the bicorn hat.General Bagration attacked with Calvary to where Marshall Lannes stood with his infantry .The battle hardened French infantry fired,hailing a storm of bullets as they killed the advancing Russian cavalry.
Bullets hit the Russian Calvary as they fell,but many came to replace their fallen comrades.Bagration was shouting as he waved his sword high.Lannes stood and waited.
''On my order! Form Square! '' He bellowed,his arms behind his back.He was dismounted.
But it was too late,Bagration realizing the situation had barked orders to go faster.The French solders could not take it any longer as they were being cut down.They fled,and they saw their Emperor and shouted Viva la' Emperor!
Napoleon watched in fury,but said nothing as he saw the soilders flee.This was not going to plan.Most of his army was entambled and now he had it,yet these russians had to come in his part of this important battle,damn them!Thought Napoleon.
''Send in the Guard Cavarly '' ordered Napoleon.
The French Guard Cavarly charged at the advancing russians.All it needed now was,Napoleon thought a finall blow to end this war.
But the Allied columns attacked early,but they attacked poorly,giving the french enough time to curb them back.The French Infantry fried first,rleasing bullets from their muskets,the allies replied back,but with less results,the french infantry fired again,this time hitting more targets.
''Just in time,Soult! ''
Soult had arrived from where the battle was going on,he dismounted of his horse and walked to Napoleon.
''Sire '' he bowed
''There is no need to bow,Soult,time is running out! '' Napoleon said
''The Plan ,Soult is to divide the two armies.We must divide the armies if we are to win! That was the battle plan and it will be,stick to the plan ,my fellow marshall and we will win''. Napoleon patted Soult's back.
''Tell me Soult,how long it will take for your men to reach the Pratzen Heights ?''
''Less then 20 minutes sire ''.
15 minutes passed he time and the battle still want.
''Marshall Soult! '' barked Napoleon
''Yes Sire! '' replied Soult.
''Get your men and attack the Pratzen Heigths now! '' Napoleon ordered.
Soult mounted his horse and rode off.
Napoleon saw as the russians and the austrains were being slowly divided.The Russians were being poorly led,so were the austrains.What was this?Was he fighting two weak people who called themselves emperor?If so,then he could rule the whole of europe if there were weak leaders,he thought
Napoleon muttered loudly
''One sharp blow and the war is over."
''Sire! '' shouted Davout.
''What is it? '' replied Napoleon .
''They are attacking Sokolnitz ! ''
''Right ,Davout,send three infantry colums to retrieve Sokolnitz!I'll send some of my men as well ''.
Davout bowed and quickly ran on his horse to where his men were fighting/
''Lads,we attack Sokolintz,its vital we take the village! ''
The men looked confused as they were already fighting the russians.
The Colonel had been enjoying the battle,but as he saw the recutlance of his men ,he barked
''Well come you lazy dogs!You heard of the what the Marshall said!Now move! ''
The Colonell led his troops out,the russians wre confused ,but they saw that the French were retreating,they charged at them,but then stopped as fresh new line of French Infantry fried at them.
They arrived at the village to see very less French troops gaurding it,most of them were ligth infantry,and allied infantrymen.The Colonel ordered then to form in lines of three.
''On my order! '' The colonel shouted
The Colonel's troops loaded their guns
''Load! ''
''Fire! ''
They fired.The Bullets caught the allied infantrymen ungaurded.The Light infantry cheered as they saw reinforcements coming in.The Iron Marshall had just arrived with three more infantry columns.They lined up and fired.Again the allied infantrymen did not reply as they were too messed up.
The French infantry were firing with ferocity,giving no time for the allied columns to attack back.But then sparks of white smoke came up,as the allied columns had now been reinforced by four more columns,the French only having three.Davout realized the frank situation of this fight,but he had to take the village no matter what,if sent forward his troops,they would be cut down and flee before they even reached the allied column,he frowned,he needed help right now.
The Allied columns had begun finally enjoying crushing the french infantry,they fired in line and at the same time.Now there was no need to fear them,as Russian and Austrain infantrymen fired quickly.Their commanders encouraging them to fire onward s.For hours the battle raged,with but less and less French infantrymen guarding the village,what had remained of the three great french columns was now a rubble, luckily the colonel had survived .
Until a great cheer came from nowhere,everyone stooped friring and turned to see a great mass of French infantrymen,most had of them had perfect shakovs,their uniforms fresh and the blue and white suited them.Davout turned his horse to face them
''Now lads!To war!And to hell with the allied columns,kill them!!!! '' He shouted
They cheered,and out came the grenadiers,they threw their grenades,as many of them were being cut down,Napoleon had promised to send his men,and these men fired with such ferocity that the Austrains began to cower,But the Russians kept on firing
The Russians could not take any more gunfire as they shouted ,and they enaged with the French infantry.Little did both sides know,that this battle was going to rage for ten more hours,Soon it became a entangled mess.
General Langeron stood watching the battle,he was one of the royalist supporter,for he was french,but he did not support what had happened to France,he missed his country dearly.
''Order the bombardment of the village! '' He shouted
The Russian arteliary fired int he village.Meanhwile,Marshall Bernadotte's division was involved in heavy figthing.St Hillare's postion
A dense fog helped to cloud the advance of St. Hilaire's division, but as they went up the slope the legendary ‘Sun of Austerlitz' ripped the mist apart and encouraged them forward.Then as the fog desned,The Russian officers and infantry were stunned to see a largefrsh new line of blue coated soilders.
They fired.
The Russians were hit back,then they replied back,this hitting nothing.The French soldiers fired again.But the Russians refused to give up.For an hour or so,it ravaged on and on.The Russians were losing soldiers by the minute.But the Russians refused to give up.For an hour or so,it ravaged on and on.The Russians were losing soldiers by the minute.But their allied commanders had time to replace the fallen comardes and bring in some new soldiers every minute.
In the 2nd column,there were inexprinced austrain soldiers.What the allied columns did not know,they were fighting agaisnt one of the best fighting forces in the french army.Slowly ,however the battle was turning in the allied column.Thye kept on firing,while Hillaire's men fell.The French advanced back,with the allies till shooting,when Hilliare shouted
''On to it!Lads,hit them hard! ''
They fired and they shouted Viva la France!
Hillaire's men attacked the allied column too early,giving no time for the allies to react.
The 1st regiments of Hillarie's men attacked. More and more French regiments arrived. The Allied columns were trapped now there was the only option was to escape the hill before the French completely destroyed them.
To the north of the battlefield, General Vandamme looked on.The allied divisions in Stare Vinohrady(Old Vineyards) needed to be defeated and the battle would be firmly in France's favour.
''Lt D'offens! ''
D'offens walked to the General
''Yes ,General ''
''Send my division in!We attack Stare Vinohrady!! ''
D'offens nodded.
General Vandamme's division attacked Vinohardy.D'offens walked in with three men behind him.Nearly all of them in the divison were organsed in that formation,four men ,3 in the back,one in the front.
The Allied columns looked on at the French infantry.What were they doing?Then they took cover as they realized it was a skrimish.
''Fire!! '' D'offens shouted. They fired from their muskets.The Allied soldiers replied back with a reply of weak fire. Then the french infantry came in lines of two and fired,for hours they exchanged into different formations. Vandamme was getting tired.He wanted to attack now, But D'offens had told him that they needed to pepper the enemy,well if this was peppering the enemy,it didn't look like it.
Then they charged,shouting at the allied infantry.The Russian commander ,an old aristocrat ordered his troops to fire.But when they replied, nothing came, their shots had been in nowhere.As more and more French soldiers arrived, so did the sun take away it's arms,revealing the entire position of the allies soldiers . Now lush colours descended Vinohardy,with green and blue,smoke erupted like volcano's.
The French ran through the village and engaged in melee fights.Swords and Bayonets met each other.Through the grey dingy mist,fire shot's came from muskets.The Russian Aristocrat charged waving his sword at the French Infantry.D'offens lurched on to him,throwing them both to the ground.
''Get me of me!You peasant! '' he shouted in Russian.D'offens punched him and took the Russian's pistol.But before he could shot,the Russian grabbed him and kicked him in the stomach.
Then as the Russian got up,D'offens sheathed his sword.
''Ah so you want a battle eh? Well come and get me '' The Russian muttered
D'offens said nothing.He was only looking at the old aristocrat.How he hated them.It was due to them his family had been hanged for some innocent crime.He raised his sword high and it went,his hand not controlling the sword ,but letting the sword go on the Aristocrat's head.
The Aristocrat saw the sword coming at him,gleaming at his eyes.But he blocked it.D'offens attacked again, but the Russian blocked it.The sword's were still clashing each other,sparks of metal and fire came from them.
All the while,smoke and mist surrounded them.The French infantry were quickly winning the battle.Austrian soilders had retreated back while the Russian infantry stood on their ground.
D'offens attacked from the hip,his sword going fast.But the Russian blocked it again.How is this fool not going to lose? D'offens thought angrily.
Then the Russian attacked and this time,more aggressively , This time his sword nearly went to D'offens head.He swung it and attacked viscously,giving no time for D'offens to attack back,He was forced to the defensive side.
Now the battle was gaining in the Russian's favour.More and more troops arrived in time.The left wing of the French was badly damaged.Only three or four troops defended it.Russian troops began to attack the left side.
Napoleon watched from the hill,peering through the telescope.
''Marshall Bernadotte!
''Yes Sire! ''
''Get your IV corps and help the left wing of Vandamme's force!Vinohardy! ''
''Yes sire! ''
Bernadotte galloped from his horse,the IV corps were following him down to Vinohardy.Then they began to form line,but as they did they were shot down.
They now had reinfoceed the left wing,as they lined up,they aimed their muskets in a straight line.
''Fire!! '' the French officers shouted
The IV corps fired,smoke came from their muskets as they hit the allied infantrymen.The allied infantrymen charged at the left wing, desperate to win the battle.But even they could not come as they were hit down by the interning fire of the French infantry.
Artillery fired from all sides.The rancid smell of gunpowder smelled like rotten eggs.Men feel to the ground as bullets splattered their brains out,blood came from their stomachs.The smoke polluted the atmosphere.Along the line of the 4th corps officers screamed the same word, the cry was picked up by sergeants along the line. In the blink of a eye the corps vanished in the foul smelling bitter tasting smoke from their muskets.
“Second rank!”
Yet more smoke added to it, the wind was too calm on that bit of field and the allied lines vanished as the smoke lingered.
“Reload!”
But it was too late. The young officer in charge of the far left flank of the corps line head shouts in russian, then the clatter of metal. His birth by fire today had taught him many things, one of which was the sound of bayonets being attached.
Another shout.
“Please god.” He muttered under his breath, he licked his lips, stalk from the salt in the air.
The wind picked up breifly and he caught a brief flash of dark green uniforms standing with muskets held by their hips facing outwards, hundreds of little glints from hundreds of bayonets glinting in the sun. Then a cry came through the smoke and the blades charged towards him.
He realised he had forgotten to draw his sword and fumbled for it, he only got it half way when a screaming Russian tore through the smoke in front of him and rammed his bayonet into his gut.
Along the rest of the line other platoons had reloaded in time and the Russians were hit by a point blank volley tearing their attack to pieces. The French attached their own bayonets, slowing their reload time dramatically, no one wishing to slice open his hand. But ready to dispatch any other Russian that got too close for their own liking.
All the while, the artillery fired. The boom of eight and twelve pounder cannons had become a constant that no one paid much attention to them. Until that was, the guns turned their direction. Initially the barrels had been cold, and rounds had fallen short, but now the heat was right and the gunners had their range. As a unit of Austrian infantrymen began to approach one of the gun positions the gunner switched from ball to canister shot. They waited, crouched down as the drums came closer. As the line formed individual figures the gun sergeant dropped his hand as he screamed them to fire, they ears still ringing. The silence was shattered by the explosions, and sound vanished from their ears. The screams of broken men weren't heard until they had loaded the second canister. And in a heart beat it was lost again.
They only reloaded one more time, before the Austrians had taken enough and ran, leaving their friends dying, clutching spilled out cuts and torn off limbs
Leafs tumbled away,as men now advanced in long columns and fired.This was the battle of the century.Even though the russians had fired and made a decent contribution to the battle,their muskets were weak.
Napoleon watched as Bernadotte's corps supported the right wing.He had move headquarters from Zuran Hill to St. Anthony's Chapel near the Prazten heights.Tsar Alexander merely smiled as he saw Bonaparte standing and talking.His brotther,The Grand Duke Constantine leaned across the table.
''Constantine? '' asked Alexander
''Yes,Your excelleny? ''
''Attack Vandamme's postion,where the french are supporting the left flank of their attacking column.The Imperial Russian Guard should attack the left position now! Now we shall show these french fools who we really are! ''
Constatine mounted on his horse and rode to his regimnet
''We attack the left wing at Vinohardy!Now move you idiots! ''
The Imperial Russian guard stood to attention and ran down to Vinohardy,but all the time,French Artierally fired on the allied side, causing death.They arrived but they were hit as each of them formed into line.,The Commander blowed on his horn,the Russian's loaded their guns, aimed at Vandamme's men and fired.
Vandamme's men were hit.More and more french troops came to replace the already falling line of Vandamme's men,but it was in vain.These Russian troops were hardened men.No normal regiment could surivie them.More blood was spilled on the french side.Constatine ordered to fire.And his guard fired.Smoke and sparks of due yellow and bright orange erupted from the long wodden tubes through the hint of gleaming steel.
Until then,the french line on Vandamme's left had been badly damaged.The French standard had been lost.Napoleon watched the fight as it was going on.''Attack the Russian gaurd! '' he said,and the Heavy Guard french cavalry charged at them. Swords were flung high,as they shouted Viva la France!
Constantine stood as he saw the french Calvary riding as if death himself had arrived.The French horses dug deeply as they ran,their fur going up and down,and their legs carrying them forward.They grew closer to the Russians,who fired back.Then the moment of impact came in,as the horses hooves hit the Rrussian's guardsmen on their faces,blood splattering out themfaces no longer recognizable.The officer of the Imperial guard shuddered,as he was lucky not to have been killed by a french cavalrymen.
''Dear God '' he muttered underneath his mouth.The French Calvary appeared like demons in the grey mist. ''Right lads! Form square! '' He shouted. The Russian's formed squares,but they were tiny and to little gain protection. They fired from all sides,but they bought the havoc of the french cavarly.They shouted and yelled. ''Do not worry lads! These Imperial aristocrats should be dead within an hour! '' their commander shouted as his gleaming sword of metal and steel slashed the dark green uniformed Russian.''For the 2nd French Heavy guard! Haha! '' their commander again shouted,with his sword flashing high in the air.
The mass of French Cavarly scared the Russian infantry,or known as musketeers.Until they saw the large mass of their own countrymen in horses coming for them,the 2nd officer of the 5th russian grenadiers looked on with pride.''This is our moment lads!We are winning this battle for glory!!! '' his men cheered as they saw the mass of Russan Hussars clashing with the French Calvary.
French Old Guard Grenadiers à cheval moved in.Theri were like their counterparts,seasoned veterans,with high black fury shakovs and blue and white coated uniforms.Their uniforms were fresh and newly glemaed in the sun.As their horses moved fast,they loaded their guns and fired.
Bullets sparked and hit the Hussars,The Cheval's were light infantry cavalrymen,and as they moved into a line ,they shot,like archers pracitsing from target practice.Many Russian Hussar's fell down.Preobrazhensky Guards,one of the oldest units in the russian army advanced forward.To help Constatine's imperial guard.Their shavkovs gleamed in the sun,with the golden decorated drawings and carvings,they fixed their bayonets,then they were ready,for anyone frenchmen who was going to attack them.Shards erupted as cannonballs hit infantry regiments,blowing a section of the regiment to the ground.
Many Shakovs were worn on that day.But Bircorn hat were mostly dominant in the infantry section of the French.
''No,No,No!! '' shouted Makov ,a Russian Hussar ,as he saw his fellow Russians being cut down.This was not going good,and his regiment of cavarly had not been ordered to attack yet! The French Cavarly were having a great time smashing their cavarlymen,and there was nothing Makov,commander of the Lifeguard Hussars,could do nothing about it,
Cartridge's were ripped and bayonets were pulled into the long barrels of the French infantry.The French army had never been this so outstanding since the beginning of 1792.Never before had French armies proved their worth,and at Waterloo,22 years later,they would prove their worth.
A story about Napoleon Bonaparte's greatest battle.Hope you enjoy it!Am looking for feedback.
