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Eugène and McDonald! Time for you to regain the Emperor’s trust. Advance with determination, seize Havelberg and crush the enemy!
Battle of Havelberg
Situation Report May 11,1813
After the battle of Lützen/Görschen Napoleon is slowly moving eastwards to gather more refreshed troops from Mainz and Erfurt. The Imperial Guard is strengthening substantially. The main army is reaching Meissen on May 11th. A decision has to be taken to march on Dresden and force the Saxon king back into the alliance with the French or to find other more important targets.
In the battle of the Elbe Eugène was unable to cross the river and join XI Army Corps/McDonald. He stayed on the left bank of the Elbe and moved northwest to join Davout’s Ist Corps which left Hamburg with two divisions of veterans from Russia. Doing this Davout is weakening the Hamburg garrison and risking the defection of the Danes.
Eventually, both meet near the town of Havelberg where they are halted by a mixed bag of Allied troops.
The coalition troops arriving from Stralsund consist of a small British contingent, some Swedes (Stedingk), a provisional corps under the Austrian General Wallmoden and some Prussian Landwehr having some difficulties to cooperate.
Havelberg is lightly fortified and protected by the small river Havel.
If Davout, Eugéne and McDonald can win this battle they will secure a road to the besieged coastal fortresses. It is up to Ludwig von Wallmoden to defend HAVELBERG against three French Corps. Will the Swedes and Brits hold the right flank until Kleist arrives with II. Prussian Corps?
