The Battle of Dresden, fought on 26–27 August 1813, was one of the last great victories of Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars. Taking place in Saxony, it pitted the French Emperor against the allied armies of Austria, Russia and Prussia. Despite being outnumbered, Napoleon used rapid manoeuvres, his elite guard, and well-prepared defensive positions to secure a decisive but ultimately fleeting success.
Background
In the summer of 1813, following the disastrous retreat from Russia, Napoleon rebuilt his forces and sought to defend his position in central Europe. The Sixth Coalition, emboldened by recent successes, aimed to push him out of Germany. Dresden, a fortified city on the Elbe, became a focal point as both sides manoeuvred for control of Saxony.
Forces
Leaders
| Side | Commanders |
|---|---|
| French Empire | Napoleon Bonaparte, Marshal Saint-Cyr, Marshal Murat, Marshal Ney, Marshal Victor |
| Coalition | Prince Karl von Schwarzenberg (Austria), Tsar Alexander I (Russia), King Frederick William III (Prussia), General Barclay de Tolly, General Wittgenstein |
Troop Composition
| Side | Estimated Strength | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| French Empire | 120,000 | Imperial Guard, line infantry, heavy cavalry under Murat, artillery reserves |
| Coalition | 170,000–200,000 | Austrian infantry corps, Russian grenadiers and Cossacks, Prussian line infantry, large cavalry contingents |
Arms and Armour
Napoleon’s army in 1813 was re-equipped but still showed signs of strain after Russia.
- Infantry: Charleville muskets, bayonets, shakos and cartridge boxes.
- Cavalry:
- French cuirassiers with straight heavy cavalry swords (AN XI Cuirassier Sword).
- Light cavalry including hussars and chasseurs wielding curved sabres (AN IX and AN XI Light Cavalry Sabres).
- Artillery: Gribeauval system guns, including 6-pounders and 12-pounders.
- Coalition troops:
- Austrian infantry with 1798 pattern muskets.
- Russian dragoons and Cossacks using shashkas and lances.
- Prussian cavalry sabres (Blücher Sabre, Model 1811, derived from British light cavalry patterns).
The variety of sword types highlighted the contrasting military traditions: heavy straight blades for shock cavalry against nimble curved sabres for skirmishing and pursuit.
The Battle
26 August
- Heavy rain turned the battlefield into mud, slowing both armies.
- Napoleon arrived in Dresden unexpectedly with reinforcements, boosting French morale.
- Coalition forces launched repeated assaults on the city’s fortifications, held by Saint-Cyr’s corps.
- Napoleon counterattacked with the Imperial Guard in the evening, regaining lost ground.
27 August
- French forces launched a full-scale offensive at dawn.
- Murat led a devastating cavalry charge that routed parts of the Austrian army.
- Coalition flanks began to collapse under French pressure.
- By afternoon, Napoleon’s forces had turned the tide, forcing the Allies to retreat in disorder.
Archaeology
Battlefield archaeology around Dresden is limited due to urban expansion. However, finds from the region include:
- Musket balls and artillery fragments in the Großer Garten area.
- Remnants of sabres and cuirass fragments attributed to French heavy cavalry.
- Buttons and insignia of Austrian regiments unearthed during construction projects in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
These remains confirm the intensity of the fighting within and around Dresden’s outer works.
Battle Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 August 1813 | Coalition armies converge on Dresden, expecting Napoleon to be absent. |
| 26 August 1813 | Coalition assaults begin; French defenders struggle until Napoleon arrives with reinforcements. |
| Evening 26 August | Napoleon counterattacks, stabilising the French lines. |
| 27 August Morning | French launch offensive; Murat’s cavalry charge routs Austrian units. |
| 27 August Afternoon | Coalition retreats; heavy casualties sustained. |
| 28 August | Napoleon pursues but cannot press the advantage due to exhausted troops and worsening weather. |
Contemporary Quotes
Austrian officer’s diary:
“The rain fell without mercy, our powder was damp, and the French guard seemed to rise out of the ground as if conjured by the devil himself.”
Marshal Marmont after the battle:
“Never had I seen cavalry strike with such force as Murat’s on that day; the Austrian ranks dissolved before us like snow under the sun.”
Tsar Alexander I reportedly remarked:
“We have lost the field, but not the war.”
Legacy
Although the French victory at Dresden was impressive, it proved short-lived. Napoleon failed to follow up decisively, and within weeks his marshals suffered defeats at Kulm and Dennewitz. The battle remains a striking example of Napoleon’s tactical brilliance, but also a symbol of his declining strategic fortunes in the German campaign of 1813.
Watch the documentary:
