Second battle of Zurich

Intro

(to be supplemented, context of the Napoleonean wars)

Countryside preceding the battle

A first battle took place with Zurich the 16 Meadow year VII (June 4th, 1799), battles at the time which the French troops were pushed back.

Unfolding

The 17 Fructidor (September 3rd) the Masséna general finds a site ideal to carry out the unloading of the French troops on Right Bank of the Limmat. Preparations for the unloading:

The Masséna general hesitated, a long time, over the choice of the point where the passage of Limmat would be carried out.

However, after having took note of the report/ratio of the officers of Artillerie and on the genius, Masséna was decided to carry out the passage of Limmat via the station of Dietikon.

With the site of this station, the river formed a considerable elbow. Moreover, convexity arised as regards French. That gave them the advantage of having their right of way by the crossfires of a many artillery. This one was placed on a raised plate, in front of the station of Nieder-Urdorf.

The ground of Right Bank of Limmat was low and favorable to the unloading of the French troops. Moreover, there was, on two banks of the river, two large bouquets of wood very suitable to mask the loading.

Once occupied by the French, the part of the wood of Right Bank of Limmat could be used to them like head as bridge. Of this one, it became difficult, for the Russians, to drive out the light Infanterie French that one would throw there.

However, the locality of the passage presented also great difficulties. The principal one was almost impossibility of forwarding the boats necessary differently than on buckets or to the force of the arms.

However, the French officers deployed a great energy in their work. Moreover, they were rather well supported by artillery and the genius. All that made it possible, consequently, to overcome all the difficulties and the obstacles of an unloading on Right Bank of Limmat via the station of Dietikon.

September 25th, before the day, all the preparations to pass Limmat came to be completed.

The chief of artillery brigade Dedon awaited nothing any more but the last orders of the Masséna general to begin the loading of the Française troops.

Excellent provisions tactic of Foy:

The major Foy ordered artillery of the French division of the general Lorge. He laid out and placed, carefully, different the batteries Frenchwoman which were to protect the unloading on Right Bank from Limmat.

Moreover, Foy started to furnish, of guns, the small plate which bordered the station of Nieder-Urdorf. Consequently, this last battery took with reverse the left wing of the Russian army. Moreover, it swept the plain between the two wood. Lastly, once the troops Russian would be driven out peninsula, this battery of Foy would prevent any renewed attack of the enemy.

Foy placed, also, of artillery in the lower fold of Limmat. The required effect was to beat the enemy camp, to take the line of the Russian army in scarf and to make a crossfire, in concert, with French artillery placed on the plate of Nieder-Urdorf.

In the interval of these two principal sites, Foy had laid out several parts and in particular of the howitzers. The latter were intended to beat wood in front of the position of the Russians. Moreover, these French howitzers were to prevent the Russians from lighting.

Lastly, opposite and below the village of Othweil, the intelligent major of Foy artillery had established a battery of parts of twelve on one taken along which was close to Limmat. That had for goal to beat and intercept the only communication which existed between the camps Russian of Wirenlos and of Weiningen.

At two hours, all the French artillery was, consequently, placed in these various positions.

Provisions of the various army corps French:

The French troops of the general Lorge, supported by the brigade of right-hand side of the general Mesnard, were intended to pass on Right Bank of Limmat via the station of Diétikon.

The reserve of the French Army was under the command of the general Klein. It was composed of pomegranate S and a body of cavalry. It was placed between the stations of Diétikon and Schlieren.

The Klein general had, for mission, to hold in failure the stations Russian that the general Korsakow had installed on left bank of Limmat.

The French division of the general Mortier was, also, to make diversion and draw the Russian attention of the detachments which were camped in front of the Sihl. This operation of diversion was to be realized by a vigorous attack on the station of Wollishofen.

To finish, the brigade of left of the Mesnard general was intended to make, also, an attack of diversion on the village of Brügg.

3 Vendémiaire (September 25th), the battle starts. Success of the unloading of the first French troops:

The loading of the French troops started at four o'clock in the morning. Laid out on the shore, the French soldiers jumped merrily in the boats which were to transfer them onto Right Bank of Limmat.

One started by filling the lightest boats. However, some of between-them were, soon, too overloaded. They were engravèrent and could not advance some time.

This accident, however, was promptly repaired but it delayed, during some time, the course of operation of unloading. The noise, that the French made to give the boats to flood, threw alarm in the Russian stations.

Thus, the Russian detachments seized their weapons and made fire on Limmat. It was, consequently, five hours of the morning.

A minute ago to lose if one wanted to make a success of the unloading of the troops Frenchwoman. At this time, the French soldiers started to testify to their sharp impatience. One heard, soon, these cries “ahead! ahead! ”.

The boats, which had been blocked, finally, were released. Consequently, they filled, successively, of French troops.

The passage was carried out with as well speed as, three minutes after the first rifle shots drawn by the enemy, there did not remain any more only one French boat on left bank of Limmat.

Put at the head of three companies of Police officers and a battalion of light infantry, the major Maransin approached, the first, the Right Bank of Limmat.

Maransin, soon, was followed by the other troops of the French avant-garde. This one was ordered by the general Gazan. At once unloaded, this general walked, of continuation, with the enemy under the most fatal fire.

The Russians advanced several times to reject the French with the river. However, the French batteries of the commander Foy carried out a fire so sharp that all the counter-attacks of the Russians were pushed back. Thus, the unloading of the French troops, on Right Bank of Limmat, could continue without problem.

The boats already turned over on left bank of Limmat in order to operate the second transport of French troops. However, Masséna heard already, the French troops of Right Bank of Limmat, to beat the load vigorously.

Consequently, in fear of shoot at the French soldiers, Masséna required of Foy to cease the fire of its batteries. Consequently, Masséna bornat to accelerate the successive passage of the last French troops on Right Bank of Limmat.

The success of the unloading was practically assured and the French were rather strong on Right Bank of Limmat. This is why, the chief of Dedon brigade started, consequently, the construction of a bridge intended for the passage of artillery and French cavalry.

Success of the Gazan general in the station of Weiningen:

While one dealt with this last work, the French troops of the Gazan general, posted then on Right Bank of Limmat, were formed in column in the wood bouquet and advanced to attack the Russians.

The troops Russian did not await the shock of the French and were withdrawn almost at once. However, this movement of retirement was less the effect of terror than that of an operation of the Russian general.

Indeed, while continuing to advance, the French found, soon, all the Russian troops of the camp of Weiningen arranged in battle.

This capacity of the enemy did not disconcert the French. The latter engaged, consequently, a sharp and fatal shooting. During this one, the French accepted, rather quickly, of many reinforcements coming from troops which had just unloaded.

In this first combat, the Russians had, first of all, a light advantage. However, it should be specified that they were placed in an advantageous position and supported by the fire of seven pieces of artillery. The French, as for them, did not have an artillery yet and were, therefore, handicapped.

Finally, reinforced by new troops, the French could, finally, set up a franker and solved attack.

The French troops of Gazan (10th light and 37e half-brigade) advanced with the step of load and sank on the Russians with the bayonet. The Russian soldiers, soon, were obliged to withdraw itself with an enormous loss as men killed, wounded or made captive.

This first success returned, the French, Masters of the wooded plate and the camp of Weiningen. On these entrefaites, the bridge, which had been thrown on Limmat, had been finished with infinite sorrows.

Fine of the unloading of the French Army on Right Bank of Limmat:

The Masséna general had chaired itself his work. Its presence and the encouragement, given to the pontonniers and to the workmen, contributed strongly to the completion of this bridge. This one had been started at five hours and was finished at eight o'clock in the morning.

At this moment of the battle, not less 8 000 French soldiers were already positioned on Right Bank of Limmat.

At nine hours, the light artillery, cavalry, and the remainder of the infantry unloaded on Right Bank of Limmat. These troops occupied, soon, the Plateau of Fahr.

Two French battalions advanced on the station of Otweil and took positon there. That, in order to hold in failure the Russian troops of the camp of Wirenlos.

While the French troops of the general Lorge, supported by the brigade of right-hand side of the Mesnard general, operated thus on Right Bank of Limmat, other French divisions glorieusement discharged operations with which they had been charged.

As of the point of the day, the Mesnard general had made make, on banks of the Aar, a very sharp fire with all the batteries which it had installed close to Baden. That, in order to dismount the batteries of Russian artillery which was to him, consequently, opposite.

At the same time, Mesnard advanced the boats which had remained on Aar. Moreover, it made put, on only one row, the French brigade which it had under its orders. The purpose of that was to make believe, with the Russians, that its objective was to try the passage on Aar.

These demonstrations knew, consequently, every success since the left wing of the Russian army remained, all the day, inactive in the plain which bordered the stations of Freudenau and of Wuren-Lingen.

The Mesnard general succeeds in, even, throwing a detachment of light troops on Right Bank of Limmat. That, by means of some boats which were transported, with arm and under the fire of the Russian grapeshot, of water of Aar in those of Limmat.

Mesnard managed, thus, to be made main of the course of Limmat via the station of Vogelsang.

Success of the generals Mortar and Lorge in the stations of Wollishofen and Hongg:

On his side, the Mortier general had carried out a rather vigorous attack against the village of Wollishofen. The Russians resisted it, moreover, long enough. That gave Russian time with six battalions to arrive at the help of the station of Wollishofen.

However, Mortier accepted, in its turn, the reinforcement Of a French battalion coming from the reserve of pomegranates of the Humbert general. Consequently, Mortier did not fear to continue its attack on the village of Wollishofen.

The French carried out a load which made it possible to push back the Russians out of the station of Willishofen. The Russian runaway were, consequently, constrained to be withdrawn, precipitately, in the town of Zurich.

At eight hours, the French troops of the general Lorge did not have any more enemies in front of them. That is explained by the fact that the Russians had been forced to evacuate the camp of Weiningen and had withdrawn themselves, by two banks of Limmat, towards the town of Zurich.

To ten hours, Russian troops were presented, in battle, in the Plaine of Sihl, in front of Zurich. This column was, consequently, under the protection of artillery of the works of Zurich.

Being exposed to the fire of most of French artillery, this Russian column tested, soon, a considerable loss of killed or wounded.

After being itself formed on the Plate of Fahr, the French troops attacked and carried the village of Hongg, as well as the batteries which were there. All this, in spite of a rather obstinate resistance on behalf of the Russians.

Great attack of the Korsakov general. This one is however broken by the victorious counter-offensive of Masséna:

The general Korsakov, general-in-chief of the Russian army, lives himself soon in a hurry by several with dimensions at the same time.

Consequently, Korsakov decided to join together, with him, most of the Russian troops which it had in Zurich and on Right Bank of Limmat. With all these troops, the Russian general formed a strong tightened column masses some by Bataillon S. With this one, Korsakov advanced, soon, against the Française troops which emerged of the station of Hongg.

This Russian column was strong of 15.000 men. It was, consequently, more numerous than the troops Frenchwoman than it had opposite it. Thus, this imposing mass made, first of all, some progress.

However, the Masséna general recalled his wings on his center. That, in order to oppose a stronger resistance against the walk of the Russian column. Then, Masséna made operated its light artillery on the sides of the Russian column.

The large Russian column stopped and remained a long time inébranlable with the impetuous loads of the French.

However, the fire of light artillery of the French had dug of rather broad breach in the Russian column. Masséna ordered, consequently, with its French soldiers, to penetrate with the bayonet in the vacuums which the fatal discharges had just made.

At this point in time one of most appalling carnages started whose annals of the war make mention.

The French threw themselves with fury on the Russians, completed to break their mass, and covered, in little time, the battle field of died and casualties.

The Russians are reflected has to flee in the greatest disorder. Masséna did them will continue by the French cavalry of the Klein general. This one had not given yet and burned to take share with the success of the day.

The French cavalry completed to disperse the battalions Russian and continued the remains of the frightening column into the suburbs of Zurich.

After this announced victory, French, though harassed with tirednesses, did not take rest.

Masséna gave, immediately, the order to occupy all the heights which separated Limmat from the Vallée of Glatt. Then, it pushed its outposts on the reverses of the Zurich-Berg.

Lastly, the evening even, Masséna made summon the town of Zurich to open its doors. However, the Korsakov general proposed conditions which were not accepted by the French.

After having made all its provisions to continue its successes on the Russian army, Masséna made take, with its victorious troops, a rest become quite necessary after tirednesses of this first day.

September 26th, the battle begins again. The French gain new successes and seize the town of Zurich. Defeat of the Russian army:

During the night from September 25th to 26th, the Korsakov general made give up the positions which had been occupied by its troops towards the junction of Aar with the Rhine.

Then believing itself able to take again the offensive, the Korsakov general reduced, of Zurich-Berg, a strong Russian column. Its new objective was to attack the French outposts which were posted on the road of Wintherthur.

At this time even, Masséna began its movement to attack its adversary and to press the town of Zurich by the two sides of Limmat.

The French outposts were folded up, first of all, on the heights which were between the stations of Affholteren and Hongg. However, supported soon by the large one of the troops of the general Lorge, the French referred ahead. Consequently, the combat engaged highly and success was a long time undecided.

The Russians made incredible efforts to remain Masters of the road of Wintherthur. This one was taken and taken again successively by the two armies.

Finally, by a last load vigorously carried out in tightened column, the French entirely collapsed the Russian troops and reflect them in a complete rout. In this last action, the Russian soldiers underwent of rather heavy losses out of of killed, in wounded or prisoners.

Immediately after this new victory, Masséna dealt with the attack on the town of Zurich.

The general Oudinot, who had already seized suburb-in Baden, advanced with a French column towards the large door of the town of Zurich. This one, soon, was inserted with blows of gun.

After having killed or having dispersed the Russian detachment which defended this large door, the Oudinot general penetrated in Zurich and drove out the Russian troops of all the streets of the city.

He was then midday. Zurich was between the hands of the French.

Assessment

The catch of Zurich completed the ruin and the dispersion of the Russian army. This city was the district-general of the Korsakov general. All the Russian stores, casualties, the large artillery park and the women of the Russian officers fell to the capacity from the French.

All the French prisoners, facts in the last businesses, were also delivered in this occasion. The Russians, in a hurry so highly for thirty-six hours, had not had time to evacuate these French prisoners on the backs.

The Russian military case had been taken and taken again several times in the course of the day. Finally, it remained definitively with the capacity of the French.

The loss of the French was assembled to 3 000 killed or wounded. That of the Russians was assembled to 7 000 killed and wounded, 6 000 prisoners, seven flags and of many guns.

The town of Zurich had, necessarily, much has to suffer from such a fatal action. After the combat, it presented the most alarming spectacle of the furies and the results of the war.

Continued highly by the French, the remains of the Russian army were withdrawn initially on Eglisau and then on the station of Schaffhausen.

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