Battle of Saint-Dizier facts for kids
The Battle of Saint-Dizier was a fight that happened on March 26, 1814. It was between the Russian Army, led by Ferdinand Wintzingerode, and the French Army, led by Napoleon Bonaparte. This battle was part of Napoleon's "Campaign of France" during the War of the Sixth Coalition. It's famous because it was Napoleon's last victory before Paris gave up and he had to step down as emperor. It was also his second-to-last victory ever in his military career.
Quick facts for kids Battle of Saint-Dizier |
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| Part of the Campaign of France of the Sixth Coalition | |||||||
 Charge of the dragoons of the Imperial Guard at the Battle of Saint-Dizier |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Russia |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Napoleon Bonaparte |
Ferdinand Wintzingerode |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 10,000–34,000 | 8,000–10,000, mostly cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 600 | 1,500–2,500 18 guns |
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Why the Battle Happened
The leaders of the Allied armies, Blücher and Schwarzenberg, wanted to end the war. They planned to attack Napoleon's army from two sides. They hoped to trap him and finish the fighting quickly.
Napoleon's Plan
Napoleon, however, had a different idea. He wanted to trick the Allies into chasing him far away from Paris. He thought this would give him more time and space to fight them. He was heading towards Saint-Dizier, leaving only a small group of soldiers behind.
Allies Change Their Plan
On March 24, Schwarzenberg met with King Frederick William III of Prussia and Tsar Alexander I of Russia. They decided to change their plan. Instead of chasing Napoleon, they would march straight to Paris. They sent General Wintzingerode with his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to follow Napoleon and bother his troops.
Why Paris Was Important
The Allies knew that if they captured Paris, it would be a huge blow to Napoleon. They also knew that Napoleon had many soldiers hidden in fortified towns. Plus, people in the countryside were starting to fight against the Allies. This made the Allies' march to Paris very risky, but they believed it was the best way to win the war.
Allies March Towards Paris
On March 24 and 25, the large Allied armies started their march towards Paris. On March 25, near Fere-Champenoise, they met two French marshals, Marmont and Mortier. These marshals were trying to join Napoleon. After a tough fight, the French marshals were defeated, and the Allies continued their march.
Wintzingerode's Advance
Meanwhile, on the evening of March 24, Wintzingerode and his cavalry moved towards Saint-Dizier. This was where Napoleon was heading. Wintzingerode's advance guard, led by Tettenborn, had Cossacks, Hussars, and cannons. They had a small fight with French soldiers at a village called Thieblemont that night.
Skirmishes at Saint-Dizier
The next day, the Allies kept chasing the French. They caught up with a larger French group at Saint-Dizier. A quick fight started. The French held Saint-Dizier with their foot soldiers to protect other troops who were crossing the Marne River. It seemed Napoleon was planning to attack the main Allied armies again.
The Allies saw many French troops on the other side of the river. Tettenborn quickly moved his cannons to the riverbank and fired at the French. The French soldiers ran into the woods. When some Cossacks crossed the Marne, the French in Saint-Dizier also ran away. However, the French had cannons on the heights of Valcourt, which soon stopped the Allied firing. The French stayed on the Valcourt heights until evening, then moved towards Wassy. Tettenborn followed them, but the French had many foot soldiers in nearby villages, showing that Napoleon's main army was close.
Night Before the Battle
Fighting continued all night. The Allies saw many campfires, which meant a large French army was nearby. Tettenborn stayed in Eclaron, and Wintzingerode set up his headquarters in Saint-Dizier. He sent more troops to Montier-en-Der to protect the Allied right side.
The Battle Begins
On the morning of March 26, about 30,000 French soldiers attacked the Allies from all sides. The Cossacks were forced to retreat. Tettenborn realized that Napoleon's entire army was attacking them.
Allied Retreat
The Allies were in great danger. The land made it hard for their cavalry to fight well. If the French captured the village of Valcourt behind them, the Allies would be trapped. So, Tettenborn decided to retreat across the Marne River. He stayed on the left bank as long as possible to give Wintzingerode time to prepare.
Wintzingerode was not sure if Napoleon's whole army was there. But then, General Tschernyscheff's troops were pushed back, and Wintzingerode himself was attacked. The French attacked very quickly, covering the whole plain. Many cannons were brought forward and aimed at Saint-Dizier.
A Difficult Fight
The area was flat but had vineyards and hedges, and was surrounded by woods. This made it hard for the Allies' many cavalry soldiers to fight effectively. It was still possible for the Allies to retreat quickly and avoid a battle they would likely lose. Tettenborn tried to convince others to retreat.
However, 700 Russian chasseurs (light infantry) were in Saint-Dizier. Since these were Wintzingerode's only foot soldiers, he delayed his retreat to try and save them. He ordered Tettenborn to defend the road to Vitry, while Wintzingerode stayed in Saint-Dizier. He planned to fall back to Bar-le-Duc if needed.
French Advance and Counterattack
Meanwhile, the French crossed the Marne River with many cavalry, infantry, and cannons. They moved towards the road to Vitry, protected by their cannons on the Valcourt heights. The Russian cavalry and horse artillery were spread out on the plain behind this road. The French fired heavily at them.
The Allies' baggage and horses were still in the front, causing confusion. Tettenborn, with about 1,000 horses (Hussars and Cossacks), faced about 10,000 French cavalry who had crossed the Marne. The French were about to spread out and attack Tettenborn's men.
More French foot soldiers and cannons kept crossing the river. Retreating was no longer an option. Tettenborn formed his 1,000 men into a tight group and charged the French. His Hussars and Cossacks attacked, breaking through the first and then the second French lines. The fight was very bloody. But more and more French cavalry appeared. Tettenborn had to pull back when the French got more reinforcements.
Allied Losses and Retreat
The Allied troops came under heavy French cannon fire. They broke ranks and ran along the road to Vitry. Their baggage and horses, running everywhere, caused a lot of chaos. Tettenborn managed to get his troops back in order at the village of Perthe. He fought a little more with the French that evening and then retreated during the night to Vitry. He only lost 40 men.
The rest of Wintzingerode's cavalry, who had waited for the French to attack them, lost many more men and cannons. After defending Saint-Dizier, Wintzingerode left the town that evening and retreated to Bar-le-Duc. The French chased him, but he fought them off when they got too close.
What Happened After the Battle
Even though the Allies lost the battle, it actually helped them in the long run. Napoleon was tricked! He thought that Schwarzenberg's entire army was chasing him. Wintzingerode helped this trick by renting rooms in Saint-Dizier for the Russian Emperor and the King of Prussia. He also spread rumors that his cavalry was just the front part of a much larger Allied army.
Napoleon believed this false information. He stopped at Wassy, called back his troops, and planned to fight a big battle there. He thought the ground and situation would be perfect for him.
Even the day after the battle, Napoleon still didn't realize he had been fooled. He kept moving towards Vitry, where a small French group was ready to defend. But then, he suddenly learned that his marshals, Marmont and Mortier, had been defeated at the Battle of Fère-Champenoise. He also found out that the Allies were marching on Paris!
Napoleon quickly gathered his tired and hungry troops. He made them march very fast through Troyes, Sens, and Fontainebleau to try and save his capital city, Paris.
Images for kids
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Castle of Saint-Dizier
