Author Topic: Most epic battles  (Read 48916 times)

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Offline Lantking

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #45 on: April 15, 2013, 08:22:59 am »
Battle of Castiglione

France V.S. Austria


Brief History

Spoiler
The Battle of Castiglione saw the French Army of Italy under General Napoleon Bonaparte attack an army of Habsburg Austria led by Feldmarschall Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser on 5 August 1796. The outnumbered Austrians were defeated and driven back along a line of hills to the river crossing at Borghetto, where they retired beyond the Mincio River. The town of Castiglione delle Stiviere is located 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of Lake Garda in northern Italy. This battle was one of four famous victories won by Bonaparte during the War of the First Coalition, part of the Wars of the French Revolution. The others were Bassano, Arcole, and Rivoli.

Castiglione was the first attempt by the Austrian army to break the French Siege of Mantua, which was the primary Austrian fortress in northern Italy. To achieve this goal, Wurmser planned to lead four converging columns against the French. It succeeded insofar as Bonaparte lifted the siege in order to have the manpower sufficient to meet the threat. But his skill and the speed of his troops' march allowed the French army commander to keep the Austrian columns separated and defeat each in detail over a period of about one week. Although the final flank attack was prematurely delivered, it nevertheless resulted in a victory.
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Battle Part

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By 5 August, Wurmser had concentrated 20,000 soldiers at Castiglione, including GM Josef Philipp Vukassovich's brigade from the Mantua garrison. Drawing up his army in two lines, he anchored his right flank on high ground near the village and castle of Solferino. The Austrian left held Monte Medolano, a small hilltop crowned by a redoubt and some heavy guns. Bonaparte's forces had swollen to 22,500 in the divisions of Masséna and Augereau. He was expecting to be reinforced by Despinoy during the day. While he pinned Wurmser with a frontal attack, the French army commander arranged for 5,000 men of Sérurier's division to smash into the Austrian left rear. When the Austrian lines were bent into a V-shape, Bonaparte would break the hinge of the enemy's front with an assault on Monte Medolano.

In order to draw Wurmser further into his trap, Bonaparte ordered Masséna and Augereau to retreat. When he suddenly pulled the two divisions back, the Austrians obligingly followed. Sérurier's troops, commanded this day by General of Brigade Pascal Antoine Fiorella, then appeared, led by the 5th Dragoons. Wurmser switched his second line to hold off this threat to his rear. The Austrian also quickly pulled back his first line. At this point, Bonaparte launched his masse de rupture against Monte Medolano. Chef de battalion Auguste Marmont galloped his horse artillery up to point blank range and opened fire. Grenadiers then stormed the hill. As Masséna and Augereau attacked in front, two of Despinoy's demi-brigades led by Chef de Brigade Charles Leclerc arrived and captured Solferino. After tough fighting, Wurmser ordered a retreat to avoid being enveloped. Weidenfeld's force arrived in time to help fend off an attempt by Masséna to get around the Austrian right flank. Covered by some cavalry led by GM Anton Schübirz von Chobinin, the Austrians managed to retreat across the Mincio at Borghetto that evening.
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Results

Spoiler
In the battle, the Austrians suffered 2,000 killed and wounded, plus 1,000 men and 20 cannons captured. The French probably lost between 1,100 and 1,500 men. Lipthay was severely wounded. Determined not to let Wurmser remain near Mantua, Bonaparte feinted with Augereau's division against Borghetto. But the real attack was launched by Masséna through Peschiera.

This effort forced back Bajalics and GM Anton Ferdinand Mittrowsky. His line of communications to the County of Tyrol threatened, Wurmser ordered a retreat to the north.
Before quitting the area, the Austrian commander reinforced Mantua with two brigades under GM Ferdinand Minckwitz and GM Leberecht Spiegel, sent in much-needed food and evacuated the sick. Wurmser then retreated up the east bank of the Adige to Trento. Bonaparte invested Mantua again. But, without siege guns, he could only blockade the place and hope to starve it into surrender. In the campaign, the French lost 6,000 killed and wounded, plus 4,000 men and their siege train captured. Total Austrian casualties numbered 16,700.
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Information from- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Castiglione

Offline saturnplanet

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #46 on: April 15, 2013, 01:47:04 pm »
The battle of Mafeking I believe was great

Offline Pompey

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #47 on: May 03, 2013, 06:58:16 pm »
Not sure if anyone mentioned the Battle of Vienna yet.

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9x5ADYWXeo[/youtube]



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Offline Allasaphore

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #48 on: May 05, 2013, 11:24:14 pm »
Not sure if anyone mentioned the Battle of Vienna yet.

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9x5ADYWXeo[/youtube]



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If you're talking about the 1683 Siege of Vienna, you shall win a prize.

Offline Allasaphore

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #49 on: May 05, 2013, 11:26:01 pm »
The battle of Karansebes.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kar%C3%A1nsebes

Austrians troops inflicting themselves a defeat ;D

Only they could pull that off. :c

Offline Allasaphore

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #50 on: May 05, 2013, 11:27:38 pm »
The Battle of Valmy...

The Battle of Valmy was the first major victory by the army of France during the Revolutionary Wars that followed the French Revolution. The action took place on 20 September 1792 as Prussian troops commanded by the Duke of Brunswick attempted to march on Paris. Generals François Kellermann and Charles Dumouriez stopped the advance near the northern village of Valmy in Champagne-Ardenne.

In this early part of the Revolutionary Wars—known as the War of the First Coalition—the new French government was in most every way unproven, and thus the small, localized victory at Valmy became a huge psychological victory for the Revolution at large. The battle was considered a "miraculous" event and a "decisive defeat" for the vaunted Prussian army. After the battle, the newly-assembled National Convention was emboldened enough to formally declare the end of monarchy in France and the establishment of the First French Republic. Valmy permitted the development of the Revolution and all its resultant ripple effects, and for that it is regarded as one of the most significant battles of all time.

The invading army handily captured Longwy on 23 August and Verdun on 2 September, then moved on toward Paris through the defiles of the Forest of Argonne. In response, Dumouriez halted his advance to the Netherlands and reversed course, approaching the enemy army from its rear. From Metz, Kellermann moved to his assistance, joining him at the village of Sainte-Menehould on 19 September. The French forces were now east of the Prussians, behind their lines. Theoretically the Prussians could have marched straight towards Paris unopposed, but this course was never seriously considered: the threat to their lines of supply and communication was too great to be ignored. The unfavorable situation was compounded by bad weather and an alarming increase in sickness among the troops. With few other options available, Brunswick turned back and prepared to do battle.

Brunswick headed through the northern woods believing he could cut off Dumouriez. At the moment when the Prussian manœuvre was nearly completed, Kellermann advanced his left wing and took up a position on the slopes between Sainte-Menehould and Valmy. His command centered around an old windmill, and his veteran artillerists were well-placed upon its accommodating rise to begin the Cannonade of Valmy. As the Prussians emerged from the woods, a long-range gunnery duel ensued and the French batteries proved superior. The Prussian infantry made a cautious, and fruitless, effort to advance under fire across the open ground.

As the Prussians wavered, a pivotal moment was reached when Kellerman raised his hat and made his famous cry of "Vive la Nation". The cry was repeated again and again by all the army, and had a crushing effect upon Prussian morale. To the surprise of nearly everyone, Brunswick broke off the action and retired from the field. The Prussians rounded the French positions at a great distance and commenced a rapid retreat eastward. The two forces had been essentially equal in size, Kellermann with approximately 36,000 troops and 40 cannon, and Brunswick with 34,000 and 54 cannon. Yet by the time Brunswick retreated, casualties had risen no higher than three hundred French and two hundred Prussians.

From wikipedia. Please cite your sources.

Offline Allasaphore

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #51 on: May 05, 2013, 11:30:27 pm »
I'd have to say the Battle of Poltava (1709), Austerlitz (1805), White Mountain (1620), Lutzen (1632), Mohacs (1526), or Constantinople (1453). Or the Battle of Pavia (1525). Take your picks. ^.^

Offline Hawke

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #52 on: May 06, 2013, 12:50:50 am »
Lovely quadruple-post!

Offline Nipplestockings

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #53 on: May 06, 2013, 01:02:16 am »
Spoiler
The Battle of Valmy...

The Battle of Valmy was the first major victory by the army of France during the Revolutionary Wars that followed the French Revolution. The action took place on 20 September 1792 as Prussian troops commanded by the Duke of Brunswick attempted to march on Paris. Generals François Kellermann and Charles Dumouriez stopped the advance near the northern village of Valmy in Champagne-Ardenne.

In this early part of the Revolutionary Wars—known as the War of the First Coalition—the new French government was in most every way unproven, and thus the small, localized victory at Valmy became a huge psychological victory for the Revolution at large. The battle was considered a "miraculous" event and a "decisive defeat" for the vaunted Prussian army. After the battle, the newly-assembled National Convention was emboldened enough to formally declare the end of monarchy in France and the establishment of the First French Republic. Valmy permitted the development of the Revolution and all its resultant ripple effects, and for that it is regarded as one of the most significant battles of all time.

The invading army handily captured Longwy on 23 August and Verdun on 2 September, then moved on toward Paris through the defiles of the Forest of Argonne. In response, Dumouriez halted his advance to the Netherlands and reversed course, approaching the enemy army from its rear. From Metz, Kellermann moved to his assistance, joining him at the village of Sainte-Menehould on 19 September. The French forces were now east of the Prussians, behind their lines. Theoretically the Prussians could have marched straight towards Paris unopposed, but this course was never seriously considered: the threat to their lines of supply and communication was too great to be ignored. The unfavorable situation was compounded by bad weather and an alarming increase in sickness among the troops. With few other options available, Brunswick turned back and prepared to do battle.

Brunswick headed through the northern woods believing he could cut off Dumouriez. At the moment when the Prussian manœuvre was nearly completed, Kellermann advanced his left wing and took up a position on the slopes between Sainte-Menehould and Valmy. His command centered around an old windmill, and his veteran artillerists were well-placed upon its accommodating rise to begin the Cannonade of Valmy. As the Prussians emerged from the woods, a long-range gunnery duel ensued and the French batteries proved superior. The Prussian infantry made a cautious, and fruitless, effort to advance under fire across the open ground.

As the Prussians wavered, a pivotal moment was reached when Kellerman raised his hat and made his famous cry of "Vive la Nation". The cry was repeated again and again by all the army, and had a crushing effect upon Prussian morale. To the surprise of nearly everyone, Brunswick broke off the action and retired from the field. The Prussians rounded the French positions at a great distance and commenced a rapid retreat eastward. The two forces had been essentially equal in size, Kellermann with approximately 36,000 troops and 40 cannon, and Brunswick with 34,000 and 54 cannon. Yet by the time Brunswick retreated, casualties had risen no higher than three hundred French and two hundred Prussians.
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From wikipedia. Please cite your sources.
[/quote]

Why would he have to cite his sources?

Offline Allasaphore

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #54 on: May 06, 2013, 01:26:37 am »


Why would he have to cite his sources?


Why not? So I know where the information is coming from, and possibly look more into it from both that source and others.

Lovely quadruple-post!

Thank you, I try. <3

Offline Warder

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #55 on: May 07, 2013, 12:52:28 pm »
Borodino(Moskva, Możajsk) bloody battle between Russians and French empire.

Offline KillerMongoose

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #56 on: May 07, 2013, 03:04:42 pm »
The battle of Karansebes.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kar%C3%A1nsebes

Austrians troops inflicting themselves a defeat ;D
I love how it says "Soldiers of the Austrian Empire" vs "Other soldiers of the Austrian Empire"

Offline Warder

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #57 on: May 07, 2013, 04:06:00 pm »
ye and Self-inflicted defeat
Ottoman victory

Offline Augy

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #58 on: May 07, 2013, 05:44:31 pm »
Battle of Cable Street
“Ego is a structure that is erected by a neurotic individual who is a member of a neurotic culture against the facts of the matter. And culture, which we put on like an overcoat, is the collectivized consensus about what sort of neurotic behaviors are acceptable.” -Terence McKenna

Offline El_Presidente

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Re: Most epic battles
« Reply #59 on: May 08, 2013, 08:23:03 pm »
Battle of Camden (0:50 for epicness)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUFTcrbRyEM[/youtube]