Battle of Dresden

The Battle of Dresden is a historical battle in Napoleon: Total War.

Description

The Battle of Dresden (26-27 August, 1813) during which Napoleon reversed the predicted outcome by arriving with reinforcements to bolster the city's defences. The Sixth Coalition were taken by surprise, resulting in the infliction of a heavy defeat upon them.

Narration

Moscow did not agree with my digestion. The Russians burned it rather than leave it to me. And then treachery in Paris. I ordered a withdrawal. And my enemies, the Sixth Coalition, suddenly found courage. I must show them real soldiering again, at Dresden, to save Marshal Saint-Cyr.

Pre-Battle Text

August 26th, 1813. Dresden, on the banks of the River Elbe, has been surrounded by the vast forces of the Allied Coalition.

The vast Austrian, Prussian and Russian forces, under General Schwarzenberg, believe they have cornered one of my commanders. They expect the city to fall without much resistance.

Within the city, French infantry man the various redoubts and defensive positions, in the hope of lasting long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

To the north of the river, my reserves are ready to cross the river and either strike at the enemy or move towards Dresden and reinforce the city's defences.

Victory Text

Outnumbered, outgunned, and I still triumph! This coalition is a band of fools to oppose my will!

Defeat Text

I swear, upon my honour, that my Grande Armée will not know defeat ever again!

General Information

Singleplayer

Initial deployment. French forces are blue, Austrian forces are to the south and south-west, Prussian forces are to the south-east, and Russian forces are the two regiments to the east. The map does not show one hidden Grenzer regiment, located near the Austrian artillery pieces.

Winning the Battle of Borodino is required for unlocking the Battle of Dresden.

The French are attacking and the Allied forces are defending. The French have some forces entrenched throughout the city, with some cavalry and some guard infantry in reserve. The Austro-Prussian-Russian army assaults the city from the south. Napoleon's guards and reserve cavalry can either run through the city to reinforce weaker points, or flank around the city and attack the assaulting allies from the flank or rear. 

The allies begin the battle by making a general advance toward the city, immediately endangering the southern-most French forces. The allies leave some forces in reserve, though they commit everything except the artillery and generals toward the end of the battle.

The French have the opportunity to garrison inside a building that is close to their earthworks. While this provides them with a safe position to weather musket fire from, it reduces their killing potential somewhat. Should the French forces find their positions untenable, they can retreat behind the bridges, toward the northern half of the city. However, doing so means abandoning their artillery. 

Despite the battle being a nominally three versus one situation, the two opposing forces are similarly matched in terms of manpower. Should he choose to go on the offensive, Napoleon has an excellent opportunity to cross the river at the eastern-most crossing point, as it is only lightly guarded by two Russian Jägers regiments. From this point, he has the chance to rout the allied artillery and/or counter the attacking allied infantry from the rear.

Winning the Battle of Dresden unlocks the Battle of Ligny.

Units

French Army

• Emperor Napoleon's General's Staff: 24 men, 3 experience
• Joachim Murat: 45 men, 1 experience
• 2x Chasseurs à Cheval: 45 men each, 1 experience each
• Cuirassiers: 45 men, 1 experience
• 3x Young Guard: 120 men each, 1 experience each
• Old Guard: 120 men, 1 experience
• 5x Fusiliers of Line: 120 men each, 1 experience each
• 2x Chasseurs: 90 men each, 1 experience each
• 12-lber Foot Artillery: 32 men, 1 experience
• 8-lber Foot Artillery: 32 men, 1 experience
• 6-lber Foot Artillery: 32 men, 1 experience

Austrian Army

• Karl Schwarzenberg's General's Staff: 24 men, 1 experience
• 2x Hungarian Hussars: 60 men each, 1 experience each
• Chevauxlégers: 60 men, 1 experience
• 3x German Grenadiers: 120 men each, 1 experience each
• 2x Grenzers: 120 men each, 1 experience each
• Jägers: 80 men, 1 experience
• 6-lber Foot Artillery
• 12-lber Foot Artillery

Prussian Army

• Friedrich Kleist's Cuirassiers: 60 men, 3 experience
• Cuirassiers: 60 men, 1 experience
• 2x Musketeers: 160 men each, 1 experience each
• Landwehr: 160 men, 1 experience
• 7-lber Howitzer: 32 men, 1 experience

Russian Army

• Petr Wittgenstein's Russian Jägers: 80 men, 1 experience
• Russian Jägers: 80 men, 1 experience

Multiplayer

Initial deployment. Napoleon's forces are light blue; his two allies are dark blue. The Russian army are the red dots on the far east. The Prussian army are the red dots to the south-east. The Austrian forces are the red dots in the south and south-west.

Units

French Army

Player 1:

• Emperor Napoleon's General's Staff: 12 men
• 2x Cuirassiers: 30 men each
• 2x Dragoons: 30 men each
• Young Guard: 80 men
• 2x Old Guard: 80 men each
• 2x Fusiliers of Line: 80 men each
• 2x Grenadiers of the Line: 60 men each, 1 experience each

Player 2:

• Laurent de Gouvion Saint Cyr's General's Staff: 12 men
• Joachim Murat: 30 men
• Cuirassiers: 30 men
• 2x Chasseurs à Cheval : 30 men each
• 2x Fusiliers of the Line: 80 men each
• 3x Chasseurs: 60 men for two, 80 men for another
• 2x Grenadiers of the Line: 60 men each, 1 experience each
• 2x 8-lber Foot Artillery: 32 men each

Player 3:

• Comte de Pajol's General's Staff: 12 men
• Cuirassiers: 30 men
• 2x Chasseurs à Cheval: 30 men each
• 5x Fusiliers of Line: 80 men each
•  Chasseurs: 60 men
• 2x Grenadiers of Line: 60 men each, 1 experience each
• 2x 12-lber Foot Artillery: 32 men each

Allied Army

Player 1 (Austria):

• Karl-Philip Schwarzenberg's General's Staff: 24 men
• 3x Hungarian Hussars: 30 men each
• 2x Chevauxlégers: 30 men each
• Jägers: 40 men
• 3x German Grenadiers: 60 men each
• 2x Grenzers: 60 men each
• 12-lber Foot artillery: 32 men
• 6-lber Foot Artillery: 32 men

Player 2 (Prussia):

• Frederich Kleist's General's Staff: 12 men
• 3x Cuirassiers: 30 men each
• 4x Landwehr: 80 men each
• 2x Musketeers: 80 men each
• 2x Prussian Fusiliers: 80 men each, 2 experience each
• 2x 7-lber Howitzer: 32 men each

Player 3 (Russia):

• Petr Wittgenstein's General's Staff: 12 men
• 2x Cuirassiers: 30 men each, 2 experience each
• Hussars: 30 men, 2 experience
• 4x Russian Jägers: 40 men each
• 2x Grenadiers: 60 men each, 2 experience each
• 2x Musketeers: 80 men each, 2 experience each
• 2x 6-lber Horse Artillery: 24 men each, 2 experience each

History

The Battle of Dresden is the only historical battle in Napoleon: Total War to take place during the War of the Sixth Coalition. In this war, France was on the defensive against numerically and qualitatively superior Allied forces. The allies avoided fighting Napoleon, instead forcing engagements with his less able subordinates. The Battle of Dresden was a surprising victory for the French due to the arrival of Napoleon and his reinforcements to reverse the tide of a losing battle. However, Napoleon failed to pursue the routing Allied forces due to lacking reliable cavalry. The Allied forces regrouped and continued an overall advance toward France.

The Battle of Dresden proved to the last major victory for Napoleon in the War of the Sixth Coalition. Less than a year later, after a string of defeats, he was forced to abdicate the throne and was exiled to the island of Elba. This was not the last of the Napoleonic Wars, however, and he escaped to France to begin the War of the Seventh Coalition.