Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

I have a hard time giving much credit to Murat, since he bailed and left the remains of the army with Eugene.

FML Gary McClellan
Generalissimus
Imperial Austrian Army

I agree about Murat, even though I think he could have been of use at Waterloo. You mention Eugene, he could lead a list of underrated commanders of Napoleon, in my opnion. I did a term paper in my World history clas at APSU this past spring semester. My topic of course was Napoleon [:D] What I did was a comparison of mistakes Napoleon made in the selection of his Marshal's assignments in the 1813, and 1815 campaigns. It was my belief that Napoleon made some very bad mistakes in these selections, the least of which was his leaving Davout out of both of them.

Maréchal Tony R.Malone, Comte d'Auvergne et Duc de Vauchamps: Division d'Infanterie de la Moyenne Garde; CDR III Corps Armee Du Nord
"The Guard may die, But it never surrenders".

I agree with Gary. Murat could lead a charge but, beyond that, I don't rate him at all as a senior commander. Strategically naive and tactically a bit of a lightweight.

Thumbs down from me[:(]

Regards

Mark
VII Corps

Mssrs.,

IMO, Murat was clearly one of the weaker links amongst Napoleon's Marshalls. Aside from his strategic failings, he mishandled the army's cavalry during both the 1806-7 and 1812 Campaigns to the point that nearly half of the army's mounts perished from overwork and lack of forage[B)]. Yes, Murat was at his best leading a charge, but a COMMANDER needs to be ensure that his forces arrive at the battle in fit condition to fight.

Regards,

Paco

<i>Maréchal</i> M. Francisco Palomo
<i>Comte de Marseille
Duc d'Abrantes</i>

Murat was a complete tosser...He might be dashing, but his overall strategic view and his performance as a commander (cq, keeping your troops alive while marching round Europe) was very poor. He even thought he could take on the whole of Europe when Napoleon came back from Elba.

I'd like to throw in some cents for Augereau. Made mistakes. But he could handle an army.....and he was a tough bastard. Sick and strapped to a horse at Eylau.

Davout is the best. Suchet second. Massena and Ney tie third. I think Napoleon had some wacky fear of Davout...He saw himself in him (some cheap philosify there for ya)

Patric
VII AdR

Depends on what you want them to do.

I would rank Bethier as the best, simply because he could translate Napoleon's thoughts into written orders.

My favorites tend to be Ney and Lannes, tremendous commanders, but best used for specific roles, Lannes for field battles and assaults, Ney for advance/rear guard actions.

I prefer Davout, Massena and Suchet for independent actions.

My least favorites would be Bernadotte and Murat.





Jeff Bardon
Duc de Castiglione
Prince de Wagram
Commandant de la Vieille Garde
Marechal de France
CiC- La Grande Armee

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="3" face="book antiqua" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Tony malone</i>
<br />It was my belief that Napoleon made some very bad mistakes in these selections, the least of which was his leaving Davout out of both of them.

Maréchal Tony R.Malone, Comte d'Auvergne et Duc de Vauchamps: Division d'Infanterie de la Moyenne Garde; CDR III Corps Armee Du Nord
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Napoleon needed someone he could trust in Paris during the Campaign of 1815. I think in this case Napoleon was thinking on the long run, he needed Davout organise and to build up an army while he was fighting at the border. And Davout was certainly the best for that.

<font color="green"> <b>Général de Division David Guégan Comte de Toulon, Duc de Nimes</b>
Co 11eme division
III Corps, AdN
Co Division d'Infanterie de la Jeune Garde, Garde Impériale


http://home.earthlink.net/~davidguegan/</font id="green">

Davout is tops. Lannes is right up there with him being regarded by Napoleon as the only friend he had (Davout being sort of a distant personality).

One wonders how well Desaix (sp) would have been had he survived Marengo. Again, one of the few commanders that could operate in a independent role he had that sixth sense that said "march to the battle" that only the best have.

But Davout is tops. Iron Marshall is a great book on him.

Eugene for me is highly rated as well. He was wise enough to ask for help when it was needed in 1809. The only general that Napoleon seemed to want to share his genius for campaign with.

Oberst Wilhelm Peters
2nd Kuirassiers, Reserve Korps, Austrian Army