AUSTERLITZ

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The Battle of the Three Emperors

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The battle of Austerlitz occurred on December 2, 1805. Napoleon had about 73200 men and 139 artillery guns while the Allied army commanded by General Kutusov deployed 85400 men and 278 artillery pieces. On December 1, the Russian army pressed forward and occupied the Pratzen Heights which the French had previously abandoned. Napoleon anchored his left flank with Lannes on the Santon hill. Soult's IV Corps held the villages near the Bosenitz and Goldbach streams. Davout's recently arrived division held the right flank. The front was nearly five miles long. Napoleon's cavalry, Guard, and reserves were hidden on the French left wing behind a hill. The Allied General Buxwoden advanced 60000 men south and west of the Pratzen Heights while 17600 men attacked towards Santon hill in the north. The Russian Imperial Guard with 8500 men was held as reserve in the center. By 9:00 AM Napoleon ordered Marshall Soult's two divisions to attack southeast towards the Heights. He was supported by Bernodotte's corps on the left. Meanwhile a large cavalry action occurred in the north by Santon hill. At 10:30 AM Kutusov attacked Soult's divisions, but they managed to hold by the strategic placement of artillery. At 1:00 PM the Russian Guard routed Soult's troops from the hill. French cavlary then charged repulsing the Russian Guard. Bernodotte threw in a division to hold the center. The French Imperial Guard advanced southeast onto the Pratzen Heights and then turned southwest to envelop Buxhaden's men. The Allied left flank was routed. The French had lost 8300 men, while the Russian army lost 16000 men, 11000 prisoners, and 180 artillery pieces.

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