Napoleon1 essays

Napoleon1 essays Turning Point Title: Napoleons Retreat from Moscow Place and Date of Event: June 22 1812 Napoleon and the Grande Arme invade Russia. December 18 1812 what is left of the Grande Arme make it back to Napoleon: Emperor of France who lead the French Arme and its allies into Barclay de Tolly: Commanded 127,000 Russian troops at the start of the Marshal Kutusov: Russian commander who replaced Barclay in mid August. Prince Bagration: Commanded 43,000 Russian troops during invasion. Wairy Louis Constant: Napoleons valet, who wrote down what he saw and Description of the Event: Napoleon took 500,000 infantry, 100,000 cavalry, and 1,400 field and siege guns for the troops on his invasion of Russia. He went up against Barclays and Bagrations troops. Napoleons strategy was to over power the Russians and drive them back as far as possible. June 24 French cross Niemen River at Kovno and Grodna and push Barclay back. Four days French capture Vilna and stayed there till July 16. Big mistake because this allowed Russians to unite forces at Smolenskby on August 1. Two weeks later Russians attack. Russians come away from battle in good shape, but the French come away in awful condition. Many troops are ill with different diseases and battle wounds. Russians replace Barclay with Kutusov. French keep trying to push forward. Another big mistake, they should have waited for winter to clear and attacked in the spring. Invade all the way to Moscow. When they get there Russians all ready burnt it to the ground so French have no shelter to stay in. Napoleon stay at Moscow for 6 weeks. Then the retreat begins. The French soldiers getting sick of war and kind of turn into a big crowd of men. Then the Russians attack them when they are so unorganized. End of November French able to reach Beresina River. All bridges out ...