Battle of Vauchamps
The battles of Vauchamps (in the east of Montmirail) took place the February 14th 1814 at the time of the Campagne of France and saw the victory of the French army and Napoleon i over the Prussian troops of the general Gebhard von Blücher.
Engagements against the army of Silesia
The army of Silesia, ordered by von Blücher, and strong of five bodies, advances towards Paris. But Napoleon manages to break this advance with the battles of Champaubert, Montmirail, and Castle-Thierry. The two bodies ordered in person by Blücher, motionless since February 9th to Virtues, go the 13 to Montmirail.
Vis-a-vis the bodies of Kleist and Kapzewitsch, adding up 30 000 men, Marmont, which supervises the road of Châlons since Étoges, has only one body of infantry and the cavalry of Grouchy. It is thus withdrawn towards Montmirail while making warn the Emperor.
This one moves in the night with the Guard and Ney, and arrives at Montmirail the morning, at the same time as Marmont pushed by the Prussians.
Unfolding
At once, the offensive starts. Marmont attacks Vauchamps, makes move back the Prussians who are circumvented by Grouchy. This one puts the disorder in the retirement, reinforced by the squadrons of service of the Lafferrière general who attacks suddenly.
Von Blücher continues to move back, in chess-board. But Grouchy, envisaging the retirement on Étoges, share through wood with Doumerc divisions, Bordesoulle and Saint-Germain, and awaits it on the road before Champaubert. It charges it and dislocates it, shouldered by the cavalry of the Guard at the falling night.
Von Blücher hoped to remake its troops safe from Étoges to the favor of the night, and to be reinforced by regiments of Russian and Prussian cavalry, but the duke of Raguse still makes charge with the bayonet at the fallen night, still making many prisoners.
Assessment
The army of Silesia was temporarily out of combat after four consecutive defeats, having had: 32000 killed, wounded or captive, against: 3000 with the French.
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