Lindenau

16 October 1813

The Napoleonic Guide's Suggested Tours

Lindenau was a well-fortified village that protected the major bridge across the Elster River, a likely escape route should things go wrong for Napoleon Bonaparte at nearby Leipzig.

It was guarded by several thousand cavalrymen under General Arrighi, but came under fierce attack from some 30,000 Austrians led by General Gyulai.

The Austrians initially pushed the French back from outlying villages and only reinforcements from General Bertrand stemmed the flood and finally defeated it.

Unfortunately for the French, Marshal Ney had diverted too many of Bertrand's men, who were also needed in other more crucial areas of the Leipzig battlefield, and this action was to hamper decisive French plans during the Battle of Nations.