SecondReich said:
Oops, sorry to everyone. I didn't have much time today. I will write it soon.
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Oops, sorry to everyone. I didn't have much time today. I will write it soon.
McHeinrich said:Please do! I've always been a great fan of Davout.An enjoyable read so far.
Sorry about forgetting this for so long. As I was writing it, I had computer troubles, and then problems, and then I forgot and I found it while going through my Word Documents. I continued the game to appease my "fans". So, here it is:
The Davoutionic Wars: Part 2: The Eagle and The Bear
Davout was not content to live in peace forever. He knew, that for France's future to be as bright as he desired, he would have to bring to heel the other two civilized countries that might someday challenge France. He stared, with his brilliant eye, across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. What he saw was a Young Republic, bristling with confidence and new ideals, much like France. The United States was not a powerhouse then, its army small and its population small as well. Its expansion was limited by France's hold on the Louisiana Territory. Davout had realized that to give up the Louisiana Territory would be to close the door on an almost limitless expanse of possibility for France's future.
Davout found the excuse for war in the newly independant Republic of Quebec. The United States declared war on the tiny country in 1809. Davout appeared before a crowd of Parisians and said "This attack on our French brothers CANNOT STAND! We must rally the Grand Armee. We will show the Americans that even their vast ocean will not protect them from the righteous wrath of France!" The crowd cheered, as they always did when their hero spoke.
Napoleon visited Davout later that day and asked "My Lord, do you really intend to fight the Americans?" Davout is said to simply have nodded solemnly. Napoleon nodded back, about faced, and left. The people of France had learned not to question President Louis Davout.
In 1810, Davout loaded an army, nearly 130,000 strong into its naval transports. They sailed for two months to the coast of the United States. The French troops took nearly the whole day to unload. Davout easily captured the city of Boston. His army suffered many casualties marching through the countryside, because of American sharpshooters. Davout looked disdainfully on these men, he regarded them as cowards. "Snipers may have cowed the British, but they only steel our determination."
After Boston fell, Davout's army marched overland to New York. The bustling city impressed Napoleon, who was marching alongside Davout. "This would be a fine place to live." Napoleon said jokingly to his commander. Davout looked at him for a second and said "It soon won't be."
The furious French cannon opened on the city. It was the largest artillery barrage of the era. The city's fifteen thousand defenders were almost too stunned to fight when the French infantrymen advanced. The French lost 3,000 soldiers in the fight for the city, while the Americans lost around 14,000 soldiers. Davout accepted the city's surrender in March 1811. His army was said to have shouted "On to Philadelphia!"
And indeed, on to Philadelphia they marched. The city's 10,000 defenders held out little hope. Nevertheless, Davout paid a heavy price in the assault on the city. He lost nearly 20,000 men, but the city fell. President James Madison was captured, and sent to France, where he remained until his death. "The USA can not long hold out against us, for they have very little else to fight for, one last battle and they will fall." Davout said assuredly. Actually, he was incorrect in that there were two great battles. The great French fleet, which had been harbored in Boston Harbor for nearly a year, sailed out to the Ocean, and decisively defeated the American fleet. Without a fleet, America's last hope was the new army it was raising.
Through heavy casualties, Davout's army now numbered only 50,000 men. The new American army, numbering 22,000, waited and prepared for what would be the decisive battle. Davout's army marched in high spirits.
The American commander, Andrew Jackson, was described as "glum and depressed" for the week preceding the battle. He muttered to his chief of staff "Oh, what if Washington was here to see us now?" His Chief of staff replied "If Washington was here, I would hope you would let him command the army, because we need a miracle." Jackson laughed for the first time in months.
The day of the battle was described by Davout as "the clearest and brightest I had seen in all my years of war." The sun shone brightly off the muskets of the American defenders. The French cannon opened fire and ravaged the American lines. Then, taking a page from his strategy at the Battle of Magdeburg, Davout encircled the stunned American soldiers. Andrew Jackson died leading a counterattack. The 22,000 Americans all either died or were captured. Tchaikovsky would later write his famous "1812 Overture" in memorium to the men who died that day.
With no means of continuing the fight, the American army agreed to become French vassals. Davout accepted the surrender and returned victoriously to France.
He said to the French admiral before returning to Paris "Don't let the men grow soft; I will need you again before long."
Davout knew that Russia, the most powerful country in Europe, besides France itself, was the final step in his planned domination of Europe. Napoleon, when informed of the plan in late 1814 said "Invade Russia? Are you mad? My Lord, I would never consent to such a strategy were I in command." Davout said "Fine. You will stay in France." Napoleon left in outrage.
Davout's army loaded up in November 1814, and sailed along the Baltic coast. They unloaded and captured the city of Reval. Within a month they fought a skirmish outside the city of Pskov, and then assaulted the city.
Davout's force, which numbered 140,000 at landing paid a heavy price in the winter. Napoleon Bonaparte would soon concede and sail to Reval to reinforce his leader.
The attack on Novgorod was deadly also. The Russians were avoiding a major engagement though, only fighting in cities. They pulled back to defend the Holy City of Mother Russia. On the outskirts of Moscow itself, Russia fought for its life as a country. The Sun of Magdeburg rose over the sky.
"My, God if I have never seen such slaughter in my life!" shouted Davout to Napoleon in the wind whipped frosty atmosphere. Napoleon retorted, "It would be hell with snow."
The Battle lasted for days, 70,000 Russians battling 80,000 Frenchmen. "I felt like all the days and all the ages of time looked down on me at that moment. If I was defeated, then it would be the end of my invasion."
At one point in the battle the Russian Guard crept to within 100 yards of Davout's headquarters. The Republican Guard launched into battle and beat back their counterparts. Seeing the Russian Guard defeated, the French launched a final all out assault and broke the Russian army. The Russians fled and Moscow was taken in a nealy bloodless assault.
The Tsar refused peace. He met with Davout in an intense meeting. "So help me, Alexander, I will take the fight to your very doorstep. There will be no running or denying peace then."
Davout did just that. St. Petursburg was lightly defended, and fell within 2 months after the fall of Moscow.
Tsar Alexander was humiliated. He gave up the throne, and Russia became a mere vassal.
Davout and Bonaparte sailed back to France, where they were greeted with celebration and partying. The Republican Guard paraded through the streets.
Davout, on his deathbed, would later recall, "That day to me symbolized a perpetual autumn. The sky took on a beautiful heavenly glow, and I knew that I would never be as happy again in all my life. France had fulfilled her national destiny."
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Well, that is it. I finished the story. Davout conquered all! I hope you guys liked it as well as the first one. I know its long overdue. Please forgive me for that.
haha Davout sounds like Guderian there for a second
awesome quote there.I really enjoyed this section of the Davoutonic wars, perhaps you can do cameos for each marshal?
Nice job with Russia too, hopefully mine will proceed as smoothly as yours
TreizeV said:haha Davout sounds like Guderian there for a second
I really enjoyed this section of the Davoutonic wars, perhaps you can do cameos for each marshal?
Oh man, I couldn't do what you do. That long, long, long, long AAR you have... I could barely write two installments, let alone the huge Novella you have.
I hope all the people who read this a few months ago will come back.
Heh, Davout instead of Napoleon, nice twist. Then again, maybe I'm just glad to see Napoleon outshined by someone else.
Then again, maybe I'm just glad to see Napoleon outshined by someone else.
Judas Maccabeus said:Heh, Davout instead of Napoleon, nice twist.
Well, Davout was very good. But people do Napoleon a disservice by saying Davout was a better General. Napoleon did many, many things besides warmongering that I doubt Davout could have done.
Well, I am reading the book "One Hundred Days" by Alan Schom. It has a whole chapter about Davout. It seems Davout's best quality was really determination and loyalty. He never really turned on Napoleon like most of the other marshals. But, Davout was not a genius like Napoleon.