Battle of Kulm
War of the Sixth Coalition · Kulm (Chlumec), Bohemia, Austrian Empire
Summary
Vandamme, sent in pursuit of the Allies after Dresden, advanced too far without support. He was caught in a pincer by superior forces from the rear and flank. His corps was nearly annihilated and he himself was captured. This defeat canceled the tactical benefits of Dresden.
Historical context
Napoleon ordered pursuit of coalition armies after their retreat from Dresden. Vandamme crossed the Bohemian passes without coordination with other corps. The Allies took advantage of his isolation to trap him at Kulm.
Tactics
The Allies launched a frontal attack while Prussian reinforcements took Vandamme in reverse. Trapped in a enclosed valley, the French fought to exhaustion without escape. Surrender became inevitable.
Consequences
On 30 August 1813, Vandamme's corps (32,000–34,000 men) was encircled by coalition forces near Kulm: 5,000 killed or wounded, 7,000 to 13,000 prisoners including Vandamme himself, and 80 guns lost. This destruction ruined Napoleon's momentum in Saxony and marked the beginning of reverses leading to Leipzig, shocking the French general staff.