the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

Napoleon received the word of the armistice of Schöngrabern on 16 November
and was furious at Murat's unauthorized actions. He severely reprimanded his marshal,
“It is impossible for me to find words to express my displeasure with you. You command
only my advance guard, and have no right to conclude an armistice without my order.
You made me lose the fruits of a campaign. Break the armistice at once, and march upon
the enemy…. March! Destroy the Russian army; you are in a position to take its baggage
and artillery….” 134
Murat received this letter on the afternoon of 16 November. He immediately
prepared the troops for the battle, while Lannes informed Bagration that hostilities would
resume in four hours. 135 Since the Austrians had left the battlefield, Bagration decided to
concentrate his troops behind Schöngrabern. He exploited the terrain and arranged his
troops so that vineyards made it impossible for the French artillery to move forward with
the infantry. Bagration commanded Kiev Grenadiers, Podolsk and Azov Musketeer
Regiments with a company of light artillery, that were distributed between center and the
left flank. The 6 th Jagers was initially stationed in Schöngrabern, but then withdrawn to
the vineyards over the low ridge, supported by the Pavlograd Hussars, Chernigov
Dragoons and Cossacks under Major General Ulanius. In total, Bagration had 6,000 men
at Schöngrabern. 136
The French soon appeared in battle formations. Soult's 4th Corps was on the left
of Schöngrabern to break through Bagration’s right flank. Oudinot's Grenadiers were
deployed in the center, while Lannes’ remaining forces were concentrated against
Bagration’s left flank. Murat arranged his three cavalry divisions (Walther, Nansouty and
505.
134 Napoleon to Murat, 16 November 1805, Correspondance de Napoleon Ier, No. 9497, XI,
135 “Journal historique du 5e corps de la Grande Armée,” 5 November 1805, Mémoires
Recoinnaissances, Carton 267; Colin, Campagne de 1805, Revue Historique, 75 (1907): 514-15;
Rüstow, Der Krieg von 1805 in Deutschland und Italien, 292-93; Thiers, History of Consulate
and Empire, IV, 50;
136 Kutuzov to Alexander, 19 November 1805, RGVIA f. 846 op. 16, d. 3108, l. 75-76b;
Yermolov, Memoirs, 48-49; Bowden, Austerlitz, 294; Oksman, Campaign of 1805, 77; Alvis
Slovak, La Bataille d’Austerlitz, 2 Decembre 1805 (Paris, 1907), 23; Segur referred to 7,000 men
under Bagration. Histoire et Memoirs, 441.
240