Napoleon and the World War of 1813: Lessons in Coalition Warfighting

by Riley,J.P.

• ISBN13: 9780714648934
• ISBN10: 0714648930
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-09-29
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This work by a serving British Army Colonel is an illustrated analysis of the World War between Napoleon and the 6th Coalition in 1813 covering operations in Central Europe, Spain and North America. Riley examines the differences between successful alliances and coalitions comparing the long-term international relationships in alliances and the short term union of coalitions. He points out how, in view of the political and military situations today, it is now helpful and necessary to study coalition war as an historical phenomenon: what conditions bring coalitions together and what tend to pull them apart. What are the peculiar difficulties which distinguish them from the wars of nations or established alliances? This examination is made through the example of the momentous year of 1813. The study is a detailed look at these aspects of coalition warfighting and details the inner relationships of coalitions and the strategic advantages there are by referring to Napoleon's strategies in his campaigns.Based on primary sources and several visits to the battlefields, this work gives an excellent picture of the political and diplomatic subtleties of the operational level and the difficulties of tactical field commanders in 1813 which adds to the picture of coalition war at the strategic level and thereby illuminating our understanding of the present.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
List of Maps and Figures	x
Foreword	xiii
Dr David G. Chandler
Legend to Maps	xv
PART ONE: COALITION AND WORLD WAR
Introduction	3	(5)
A New Order -- the 6th Coalition in Europe	8	(13)
Napoleon As Coalition Commander	21	(11)
World War -- the Continental System and the Americas	32	(13)
The Louisiana Purchase	32	(2)
The Continental System	34	(3)
America	37	(8)
PART TWO: CENTRAL EUROPE
After 1812 -- Europe Rearms	45	(18)
France: The Empire at Bay	45	(5)
A New Alliance	50	(13)
January To April 1813	63	(13)
Allied Unity	63	(1)
Eugene's Delaying Operation	64	(8)
The Grand Plan	72	(4)
The Spring Campaign	76	(35)
The Approach to Lutzen	76	(3)
Lutzen -- The Meeting Battle	79	(10)
Lutzen to Bautzen, 3--19 May 1813	89	(5)
Bautzen	94	(13)
After Bautzen	107	(4)
The Ten Weeks'Truce	111	(17)
Why the Truce?	111	(2)
The Austrian Mediation	113	(2)
The Allies	115	(6)
Napoleon	121	(7)
Dresden	128	(20)
March and Counter-march	128	(3)
At Dresden	131	(2)
The Battle of 26 August	133	(6)
The Battle of 27 August	139	(4)
After Dresden	143	(5)
Closing In	148	(15)
The Defeat of Ney	148	(3)
Lost Opportunities	151	(5)
Behind the Elbe	156	(7)
Leipzig	163	(38)
The Nations Assemble	163	(6)
The Battles of 16 October -- Wachau, Lindenau and Mockern	169	(13)
The Battle Lost	182	(11)
The Storming of Leipzig	193	(4)
Aftermath	197	(4)
Across The Rhine	201	(10)
PART THREE: SPAIN AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
In Fortune's Way	211	(18)
The Spanish Ulcer	211	(8)
The Allies	219	(10)
The Campaign Of Vitoria	229	(26)
Surprise and Sea Power	229	(4)
On the March	233	(4)
The Defeat of Joseph	237	(18)
On The Frontier	255	(18)
The Pursuit of Joseph	255	(9)
A Dilemma	264	(3)
The Coming of Soult	267	(6)
Nine Days In The Pyrenees	273	(42)
The Battles of 25 July: San Sebastian, Maya and Roncesvalles	273	(16)
The Allied Concentration	289	(6)
Sorauren	295	(10)
The Pursuit to Echalar	305	(10)
News From Prague	315	(20)
Siege Warfare	315	(5)
The Heights of San Marcial	320	(7)
The Passage of the Bidassoa	327	(8)
The War In The Mediterranean	335	(24)
The Campaign in Catalonia	335	(4)
Castalla	339	(3)
Tarragona	342	(4)
Suchet abandons Valencia	346	(3)
Bentinck's Advance to Tarragona	349	(1)
Suchet and Soult	350	(1)
Villafranca and the Combat of Ordal	351	(4)
Bentinck in Sicily	355	(4)
Upon The Sacred Territory	359	(12)
PART FOUR: AMERICA
Mr Madison's War	371	(16)
A Matter of Marching	371	(5)
Strange Bedfellows	376	(11)
The Invasion Of The North-West	387	(15)
Raisin River	387	(5)
Proctor's Counter-Offensive	392	(3)
Moraviantown	395	(7)
Dearborn's Invasion Of The North	402	(13)
York	402	(3)
The Invasion of the Niagara Peninsula	405	(2)
Sackett's Harbor	407	(1)
The Allied Counter-Attack	408	(4)
The Destruction of Buffalo	412	(3)
Montreal And The St Lawrence	415	(9)
Chateauguay	415	(6)
Crysler's Farm	421	(3)
The Road To Ghent	424	(11)
CONCLUSION
Conclusion: The Partnership Of Unequals	435	(14)
The Politics of Coalition	435	(6)
Allied Command	441	(3)
Fighting Coalition War	444	(5)
Chronology of 1813	449	(10)
Bibliography	459	(10)
Index of Persons	469