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Volume 8 From the Mediterranean to... Chapter 98 Battle in the direction of Moscow (5...

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    After the war, it was proved that the Russian cavalry indeed launched a fierce offensive on the French left flank, but the irresponsible French scouts exaggerated the report.  The enemy's cavalry troops were not elite and fierce heavy cavalry or invincible dragoons, but a group of Cossack cavalry and a large Russian light cavalry.  The former was commanded by General Platov, the latter by General Uvarov.  Whether it is the Russian army or the French army, light cavalry often does not participate in frontal battlefields under normal circumstances.  But this time, the Russians fouled first, because Uvarov was eager to join the battle and tried to show his abilities in front of the commander, Marshal Kutuzov.  Uvarov learned that the northernmost flank of Eugene's 4th Army on the left wing of Napoleon's army was empty, so he persuaded Tukuzov to allow him to dispatch light cavalry and Cossack cavalry to launch a large-scale cavalry attack.  Their mission is to exploit any weaknesses in the attacking side that have been discovered and do everything possible to create huge chaos in the French rear.  Indeed, the surprise attack by Russian Cossack cavalry and light cavalry caused panic among the French for a while at the beginning of the period.  However, after Grouchy's cavalry troops arrived to fight, the dragoons and carbine cavalry that were thrown in gave the Russian light cavalry and Cossack cavalry a hard lesson. They almost effortlessly defeated the two Russian cavalry units and drove them back.  The original line of defense.  In this battle, the French army's losses were negligible, but the Russians lost one-fifth of their troops.  Kutuzov also acknowledged the consequences of the failure of the light cavalry's rash attack. He angrily accused Platov and Uvarov of accomplishing nothing, but losing a large number of light cavalry in vain.  So much so that in the victory report presented to the Tsar afterwards (the Russians always believed that they won a great victory in the Battle of Borodino), Kutuzov deliberately did not mention the names of Platov and Uvarov.  However, it is a blessing in disguise, how can you know that it is not a blessing?  !  This unsuccessful cavalry attack unexpectedly led to another result.  Napoleon was deeply shocked by this. He assigned a large number of French troops to abandon the central position they had captured two hours ago and rush to the north to control the Russians' "renewed attack." As a result, Davout, Ney, and Murat were trapped in the middle of the Russian defense line.  A series of victories achieved after a morning of hard work were all in vain.  At the same time, the emperor continued to keep his Old Guard as a general reserve guarding the headquarters to prevent such a surprise attack from happening again.  At the most intense moment of the Battle of Borodino, the Old Guards, the best soldiers under Napoleon, could only play with the rumble of cannons and the crumpled cards in boredom. The officers tried hard to persuade, and even  Threatened with torture, he managed to control the noisy Old Guard soldiers joining the battle.  After the cavalry threat on the northern route was removed, Napoleon refocused his attention on the center of the Russian defense, but at this time, the Russians quickly reorganized after three hours of respite.  Napoleon then decided to launch a large-scale attack to seize the "Great Fortress" and completely pry open the Russian army's central defense line.  Prince Eugene's Italian Army once again launched an attack on the target, which had blocked them for a whole day.  The exhausted troops gathered in the valley at the foot of the mountain.  In order to support Eug¨¨ne, Napoleon assembled 170 cannons and ordered General Caulaincourt (brother of the Marquis of Caulaincourt) to replace the fallen General Montbrun and lead the latter's heavy cavalry division to attack the Russian troops south of the "Great Fortress".  The army defense line, and then moved in a roundabout way, entered the "big fort" from a relatively wide rear.  When the French artillery began to bombard the Russian positions, General Caulaincourt came to his new unit and found that the morale of the soldiers of the cavalry division was shaken. The officers were filled with grief and anger at the death of their beloved general Montbrun.  This extremely arrogant cavalry commander who gave the emperor hell in Vilna had his stomach opened by shrapnel and his blood had dried up. Montbrun lay quietly in the shade of the tree, motionless. The cavalrymen surrounded the general with tears in his eyes.  Stretchers surrounding the body.  Upon seeing this, Caulaincourt drew his saber and shouted loudly to the cuirassiers on horseback: "Don't be sad, come with me and prepare to avenge Montbrun!" After a few minutes, morale improved.  The heavy cavalry division immediately formed an offensive formation.  At this time, Marshal Murat, wearing the gorgeous military uniform stained with smoke and blood on the battlefield, rushed to Caulaincourt.  Since Marshal Davout was wounded early in the battle, Murat not only commanded the First Army, but also led his own cavalry troops. At Napoleon's request, Murat could not continue to lead the cavalry charge as usual.  Therefore, the cavalry marshal issued an order to General Caulaincourt, asking the latter's heavy cavalry to flank the "Great Fortress" and destroy it from behind.  Murat finally said: "Be sure to break through their defenses and capture the fortress!" "You will see me there soon, whether dead or alive!" Caulaincourt replied calmly, andSalute the Marshal and say goodbye.  At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, 170 artillery pieces organized by the French army began to fire at the "Great Fortress".  The 14th Infantry Division under the Eugene Army formed an offensive column in the valley below the mountain where the "Great Fortress" was located, preparing to launch another attack.  The artillery was effective, causing serious damage to the fortifications that had already received a heavy bombardment.  In some places, artillery fire even blasted away the earthen walls of the "Great Fortress".  Minutes after this preparatory bombardment, the Italian Legion's infantry divisions began charging towards their targets.  As the infantry advanced, the French cavalry's attack horn sounded almost at the same time.  As the sound of continuous fierce artillery resounded through the sky, six cavalry teams from different directions began to attack.  At the moment of charge, it was the two French cuirassier regiments led by General Caulaincourt who first launched the attack.  The French cavalry rushed up to the high ground in front of them, then galloped, quickly leaving behind the infantry who supported them.  This blue (uniform) and silver (breastplate and helmet) cavalry army, with roaring iron hooves, was invincible. After destroying a Russian artillery position, it rushed towards the Russian infantry who swarmed to reinforce the "big fortress".  The cuirassiers led by Caulaincourt rushed straight into a large group of dismounted soldiers wearing green uniforms, and then passed through the Russian infantry positions, fighting a bloody path through their chaotic lines.  The French cavalry launched continuous fierce attacks on the south side of the "Great Fortress". At this time, Caulaincourt detoured to the left and rushed towards more Russian infantry. These Russian infantry suffered fatal blows from the cavalry due to improper deployment.  Soon, the frightened Russian soldiers fled in all directions under the impact of the French cavalry.  But Caulaincourt pushed this glorious charge to a dazzling climax. He led two cuirassier regiments (the 5th and 8th regiments) through the "Great Fortress" with lightning speed.  "The open space behind leads directly into strong artillery and infantry positions.  The well-prepared Russian infantry reacted immediately. They formed a square formation within the fortifications and fired in groups at the attacking cavalry with muskets.  The French cavalry fell off their horses one after another, including General Caulaincourt who was at the forefront.  He was shot once in the chest, then in the head, fell off his horse, and died instantly.  However, at this time, the French heavy cavalry still showed heroic and fearless fighting spirit. This was because they were unwilling to give up the important results gained by the lives of two outstanding commanders before and after them, as well as thousands of compatriots.  The cuirassiers regrouped and once again charged into the Russian infantry and artillery, killing the enemy without mercy.  While the 5th and 8th heavy cavalry regiments were fighting bravely in the fortifications, more cavalry, including the Saxon cuirassiers, Polish cuirassiers, and Dutch cuirassiers, rushed in to join the battle without fear.  They followed the offensive line opened by General Caulaincourt and stormed in from the rear of the big fort.  For a time, the Russian army became demoralized. When the artillery retreated, the infantry also joined the fleeing ranks. However, these people were jointly killed by many European heavy cavalry regiments and almost all were lost.  At the same time, Prince Eugene's Italian Army and the three infantry divisions of the First Army stormed the strongly defended "Great Fortress" from the front.  They fought their way into the earthen fortifications with bayonets, climbed over the parapets, and joined the battle inside the fortress.  After half an hour of fierce fighting, the battle here came to an end.  All four Russian infantry regiments in the big fortress were annihilated. The commanders of both sides of the battle were anxiously waiting for the result of the battle, but they were concentrating on the fighting scenes inside and outside the "big fortress".  Until a tricolor flag suddenly appeared on the earthen wall of the fortress, and a cheer overwhelmed the din of the battlefield, resounding through the sky and spreading throughout the French front.  A messenger sent confirmation news of the capture of the fortress to Napoleon's base camp. In addition, news of the death of the cavalry commander General Caulaincourt also came.  The pain of losing a loved one made the Marquis Caulaincourt lose control of his emotions for a time, and tears could not help falling from his face.  But soon he regained his strength and tried to hide his sadness.  On the battlefield, commanders cannot tolerate tears with any sadness. Napoleon knew this very well.  He turned his head and said with some dissatisfaction: "You have heard the news. Do you want to withdraw from the battle?" The Marquis of Caulaincourt could not say a word. He just bowed slightly and touched his hat with his hand to express his obedience. However,  Continue to stick to your post and perform your duties as commander-in-chief of the cavalry of the Grand Army.  It was not until after dark that Napoleon came alone to the private camp of the Marquis de Caulaincourt. He soothed his tone and comforted him: "He has sacrificed his life on the battlefield like a warrior, and he even decided the outcome of a battle!  ¡±¡­
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