The New Student's Reference Work/Austerlitz

Austerlitz (äs' těr-lĭts), a town in Moravia, Austria-Hungary, situated on the Littawa River, is celebrated because of the victory there of Napoleon over the Russians and Austrians, December 2, 1805. After Napoleon had captured Vienna, in the middle of November, 1805, he took up his quarters with about 75,000 men, at Brünn, the capital of Moravia. The Austrian and Russian forces, about 85,000 strong, commanded by their two emperors, were at Olmütz, northeast of Brünn. The French occupied a high piece of ground, partly surrounded by swamps and woods. At about seven in the morning of December 2d, the allied forces advanced against the right wing of the French army, but Napoleon ordered an instant attack on their flank, and completely defeated them after a hard contest. While part of the allies were retreating across a frozen lake, Napoleon's artillery broke the ice and nearly 2,000 men were drowned At Austerlitz Russia and Austria lost about 30,000 men in killed, wounded and prisoners, while the French loss was about 12,000. After the battle the Peace of Presburg was signed, and the Russian emperor was forced to return to his empire.