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FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE

DECEMBER 1805 FRENCH TURN

Napoleon leaves Lannes in Prague and pushes 75,000 men through the snow choked mountain passes to debouch in front of Dresden. The Saxon capital falls after a brief assaut. King Friedrich August changes allegience and 15,000 Saxon troops desert the Prussian colors to march home. The combined corps of Bernadotte, Ney and Soult march into Saxony from Bavaria. Ney secures the french supply lines while Bernadotte captures Leipzig and Soult defeats Blucher.

In the north, Davout rushes to Cologne to take command of the newly raised Army of the Rhine.

Battle of Dresden
French columns descend from the mountains to surround the city. Facing the 75,000 strong french army are 15,000 Prussians. The Prussians have used the time to dig extensive entrenchments around the city but the odds are too great. The 10,000 men defending outside the city walls are quickly overwhelmed followed in turn by the garrison. King Freidrich August, who was travelling with the Prussian king, slips away with his entourage upon hearing of the fall of his capital (and Leipzig to Bernadotte) and signs a treaty with the french pledging Saxon support for the French cause. French casualties: 5,000. Prussian casualties: 15,000.

Battle of Dresden

French columns descend from the mountains to surround the city. Facing the 75,000 strong french army are 15,000 Prussians. The Prussians have used the time to dig extensive entrenchments around the city but the odds are too great. The 10,000 men defending outside the city walls are quickly overwhelmed followed in turn by the garrison. King Freidrich August, who was travelling with the Prussian king, slips away with his entourage upon hearing of the fall of his capital (and Leipzig to Bernadotte) and signs a treaty with the french pledging Saxon support for the French cause. French casualties: 5,000. Prussian casualties: 15,000.

Battle of Bamberg
Soult's corps of 15,000 men and Blucher's 10,000 Prussians collide just north of Bamberg to the northwest of Leipzig. A limited skirmish between cavalry outposts turns into a full fledged battle under appalling weather conditions. The battle turns against the Prussians when Blucher is thrown from his horse and knocked unconscious, leaving the Prussians leaderless at a critical point. Soult takes advantage of the confusion in the enemy camp and defeat turns into rout. French casualties: 5,000. Prussian casualties: 10,000.

Battle of Bamberg

Soult's corps of 15,000 men and Blucher's 10,000 Prussians collide just north of Bamberg to the northwest of Leipzig. A limited skirmish between cavalry outposts turns into a full fledged battle under appalling weather conditions. The battle turns against the Prussians when Blucher is thrown from his horse and knocked unconscious, leaving the Prussians leaderless at a critical point. Soult takes advantage of the confusion in the enemy camp and defeat turns into rout. French casualties: 5,000. Prussian casualties: 10,000.

Battle of Leipzig
Bernadotte with 35,000 men advances to the city walls and settles down for a seige. News of Napoleon's victory at Dresden and Soult's defeat of Blucher encourages the marshal to instead assault the city and overwhelm the 5,000 Prussian defenders. Bernadotte then proceeds to raise the Imperial ire by issuing a bulletin implying that the victory has turned the campaign in favor of the french. French casualties: 5,000. Prussian casualties: 5,000.

Battle of Leipzig

Bernadotte with 35,000 men advances to the city walls and settles down for a seige. News of Napoleon's victory at Dresden and Soult's defeat of Blucher encourages the marshal to instead assault the city and overwhelm the 5,000 Prussian defenders. Bernadotte then proceeds to raise the Imperial ire by issuing a bulletin implying that the victory has turned the campaign in favor of the french. French casualties: 5,000. Prussian casualties: 5,000.

DECEMBER 1805 ALLIED TURN

Charles leads the Austrian armies slowly up the Danube while bulk of the Russian armies move north into Prussia. King Wilhelm withdraws most of his armies to the east bank of the Rhine. Blucher rides into Berlin to take command of the dispirited garrison.