Dresden

Context

Dresden was the pivot of the German campaign: capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, the last faithful ally, the army's central depot and imperial headquarters through the summer of 1813. The allies, applying the Trachenberg plan, avoided Napoleon in person and struck his lieutenants; but Schwarzenberg came down on the city with the Army of Bohemia.

Forces

France: about 135,000 men, Saint-Cyr at first holding the suburbs alone before the main body arrived.

Coalition: about 215,000 Austrians, Russians and Prussians under Schwarzenberg.

Course of the battle

Napoleon hurried back from Silesia in two days and arrived in time on 26 August. The fighting took place in the suburbs and on the southern heights, around the Great Garden. Rain drowned the musket priming: artillery and cavalry decided the day.

On the 27th Murat crushed the Austrian left wing, isolated by a ravine swollen with water, and took several thousand prisoners. On the heights of Räcknitz, General Moreau, the former victor of Hohenlinden then in the Tsar's service, had both legs carried away by a French cannonball; he died a few days later.

Consequences

The allies withdrew in disorder towards Bohemia, but the victory was followed by no effect. Napoleon, unwell, did not pursue, and Vandamme's corps, sent to cut the retreat, was surrounded and capitulated at Kulm three days later. The balance of the two days was nil, and seven weeks later came Leipzig.