Day 3
siege of Salzwedel
Day
2 siege of Kladen
Napoleon
attacks Blucher at Salzwedel
The
Prussians have 1st corps and their reserve to defend the city
There
are three brigades in the city, the rest deployed outside
Napoleon
takes command of 1st corps artillery, cavalry and one brigade
He
posts them on the left of the town
The
remainder of 1st corps, three infantry brigades, are held in reserve
His
reserve of artillery and one cavalry brigade is posted on the right
The
battle opens on the right, with a cavalry melee which the French win
Napoleon
orders his reserve infantry to support this flank
Blucher
sends one brigade from the garrison to support his reserve
However
the French win and rout the gunners and two infantry brigades
On
the opposite flank the guard cavalry charge and rout the gunners
The
supporting square holds, but is broken by 1st grenadier brigade
Blucher
still holds Salzwedel at nightfall
But
he only has two infantry brigades to do so
This
is insufficient to hold against a determined attack
With
six of his eight brigades in rout he orders the garrison to retreat
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