Vauchamps

14 February, 1814

Pursuing the Allied corps of General Johan Yorck and General Sacken with a strong force under Marshal Mortier, Napoleon Bonaparte then himself moved against what reports stated was a weak force under the direct command of Marshal Blucher.

The Prussian leader had some 20,000 men with him - mainly the corps of General Friedrich Kleist - and as he marched towards Vauchamps he ran into a force under Marshal Marmont.

Blucher's men found themselves in a nasty fight and the cavalry suffered heavy losses before being pushed off the field by the French.

The old marshal himself got a nasty fright when reports came in that Bonaparte was close by and set to reinforce Marmont and so he quickly ordered a retreat.

Moving cavalry to trap the Prussians, Marshal Grouchy's advance was slowed by boggy ground and most of Blucher's men managed to evade capture.

They did, however, leave behind some 7000 killed, wounded and captured, as well as large amounts of supplies. The French lost about 600 men.