x In the early afternoon, after a particularly intense French barrage
had weakened the Russian lines, Napoleon ordered Murat to
charge at the head of 10,000 cavalry. The Russians managed to
bring up reserves to blunt the attack, but as night began to fall,
Napoleon’s forces had pushed deep into the enemy lines and
gained a considerable amount
of territory.
x Although the Army of Bohemia
was battered and driven back by
Napoleon’s day-long assault, in
the end, its lines did not break.
Napoleon’s great offensive had
failed and, along with it, his
best chance to win the Battle
of Leipzig.
x Meanwhile, Marmont was
desperately trying to stave
off the attack of the Prussian
General Blucher and his Army
of Silesia in the north. Again,
several of the villages outside
Leipzig became focal points
of the struggle, especially the
hamlet of Mockern, which served as a French strongpoint. Finally,
Marmont was wounded in a Prussian cavalry charge, and Blucher
captured Mockern.
x On October 18, the coalition launched an all-out assault, with all the
armies advancing on the encircled French. Their plan was simple:
Attack until victory was achieved. In the afternoon, the tide began
to turn against the French. As night fell, it was clear that the French
had lost the battle. Napoleon himself was described as being in a
depressed state, and inadequate preparations had been made for a
retreat from Leipzig. The only remaining question was whether the
French could escape the ring that was closing in around them.
Napoleon probably should have
retreated on October 17, but he
was intent on securing the victory
that he believed would lead to the
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thus, he stayed and drew in his
forces tighter around Leipzig.© Getty Images/Photos.com/Thinkstock.