A winter in Smolensk, a sixth coalition TL
- Thread starter Parmenion
- Start date
I don't mind the letter. If Napoleon does win it sending it early is only a good thing. If Nappy loses all the letters in the world won't save him from an Austria looking to take advantage of a weakened France.
I hav e some questions:
1. What our emperor have on mind when he say :
2. What are his plans - in strategical sense? If i win, i do ..., If i loose i must do ..., some like that
3. What are his plans in political sense about Europe?
1. What our emperor have on mind when he say :
Which parts of empire?
2. What are his plans - in strategical sense? If i win, i do ..., If i loose i must do ..., some like that
3. What are his plans in political sense about Europe?
The Battle of Leipzig, Part 2
On Thursday morning, July 22nd, the sun rose on a battlefield where almost half a million soldiers had assembled. As the morning dew was burnt off by a the beating summer heat, Napoleon oversaw the Northern sector. Blucher had formed up in the fields facing the French, though his army was outnumbered by almost 35,000 men. By 8am, with Sorbier still setting up his grand battery, Blucher decided to launch an attack of his own.
Yorck's Corps, supported by Russian infantry under Bernadotte, launched a full scale assault on Mockern. Marmont and his elite marines fought back stubbornly, and casualties soon mounted on both sides. Blucher had hoped that Napoleon would pull away reserves to defend Mockern, perhaps even abandon his attack altogether. But Napoleon refused to commit a single unit to reinforce Marmont, sending dispatches that made it very plain the marshal was on his own that morning. Before long the skirmishers and pickets outside the village were overwhelmed, and savage fighting in the streets swept back and forth.
______
"Time." The emperor demanded for umpteeth time that morning. "Fifteen minutes past nine sire." An aide called out. Napoleon grunted at that "Tell Sorbier if he doesn't start fire-" just then the roar of 150 guns rang out across the battlefield, the grand battery sending a hurricane of shot into the coalition ranks. "Now that's better" Napoleon remarked, as he turned his attention back to the French left "These animals..." he observed the Prussian attack "Have learned something." Berthier sat at a desk near Napoleon's horse "Well sire, who do you think they learned it from? You should be flattered." Napoleon grinned "That's true, that's true."
As Sorbier continued to blast the Russian lines, Napoleon ordered Bertrand and Augereau to advance, with Oudinot leading the young guard behind them. In support, Nansouty and Marshal Bessieres led I Cavalry Corps, 6,000 horsemen, in one of the great cavalry charges of the age. Bennigsen and Bernadotte's lead divisions were mauled, and their forward batteries taken. Blucher was forced to abandon his attack on Mockern to keep from being cut off, as the Army of Silesia was forced back. Bennigsen however conducted a masterful fighting retreat, ordering forward his reserves, and gradually yielding ground. Soult's Corps attempted to flank Blucher, but a brilliant charge by Prussian hussars nearly routed the French, who suffered huge losses. By 2pm, the French had advanced nearly a mile, but had been spent. Russian regular cavalry counterattacked the French right, and before long the French were forced to begin a retreat of their own by 4pm. With the Russians now closing on Wiederitzsch, Napoleon ordered Bessieres to launch another attack with the guard cavalry, supported by infantry of the young guard on both flanks.
The French counterattack stopped the Russians and Swedes cold, as they were thrown back in disarray. Marshal Oudinot had his ear shot through, but his young guardsmen had shattered the Swedish army. Critically, many senior officers were killed or captured, including seven generals. in a single day, the Swedish army had lost nearly a quarter of its strength, a devestating blow to the nation. In total, the first day's fighting at Leipzig had cost both sides about 25,000 casualties. Napoleon had failed to defeat the Army of Silesia, and overnight, the Army of Poland would arrive to the South. As dusk fell, fighting gradually tapered off across the line.
______
Marshal Oudinot pressed a crimson stained bandage to his ear as he strode about the corpse strewn battlefield, still giving orders "Keep all the light infantry committed until dark." He gestured North "I want sentries set up, they may try something." The young guardsmen were hardly older than the rest of the army, but they'd done well. The marshal still felt proud, even as his ear burned furiously "Perhaps you should have the surgeon look at that." One of his aides pleaded "Later, this is nothing much." He assured them. He saw many Swedish officers, some wounded, others standing about indignantly. "Sir!" A major called out. "I have... a prisoner you'll want to meet." "Another general?" Oudinot asked exitedly.
"No sir." Oudinot turned, and almost went slack jawed at what he saw "You, oh for fucks sake!" "Oudinot, it had to be you, the fucking moron." The former Marshal turned prince, spat back. Oudinot let out an exhasperated chuckle "This is perfect! Too perfect! The Emperor will love this!" "You ass." Bernadotte seethed. Oudinot called up an aide "See that the 'prince' here is escorted back to Leipzig, treat him with the respect of his position of course." "I'll see to it sir!" The aide called back as he offered a fresh horse to Bernadotte, who being out of alternatives, reluctantly mouted the horse and rode off. Oudinot now stood alone with the corpses of boys less than half his age, and with his enthusiasm crushed, walked off to see to his ear...
Yorck's Corps, supported by Russian infantry under Bernadotte, launched a full scale assault on Mockern. Marmont and his elite marines fought back stubbornly, and casualties soon mounted on both sides. Blucher had hoped that Napoleon would pull away reserves to defend Mockern, perhaps even abandon his attack altogether. But Napoleon refused to commit a single unit to reinforce Marmont, sending dispatches that made it very plain the marshal was on his own that morning. Before long the skirmishers and pickets outside the village were overwhelmed, and savage fighting in the streets swept back and forth.
______
"Time." The emperor demanded for umpteeth time that morning. "Fifteen minutes past nine sire." An aide called out. Napoleon grunted at that "Tell Sorbier if he doesn't start fire-" just then the roar of 150 guns rang out across the battlefield, the grand battery sending a hurricane of shot into the coalition ranks. "Now that's better" Napoleon remarked, as he turned his attention back to the French left "These animals..." he observed the Prussian attack "Have learned something." Berthier sat at a desk near Napoleon's horse "Well sire, who do you think they learned it from? You should be flattered." Napoleon grinned "That's true, that's true."
As Sorbier continued to blast the Russian lines, Napoleon ordered Bertrand and Augereau to advance, with Oudinot leading the young guard behind them. In support, Nansouty and Marshal Bessieres led I Cavalry Corps, 6,000 horsemen, in one of the great cavalry charges of the age. Bennigsen and Bernadotte's lead divisions were mauled, and their forward batteries taken. Blucher was forced to abandon his attack on Mockern to keep from being cut off, as the Army of Silesia was forced back. Bennigsen however conducted a masterful fighting retreat, ordering forward his reserves, and gradually yielding ground. Soult's Corps attempted to flank Blucher, but a brilliant charge by Prussian hussars nearly routed the French, who suffered huge losses. By 2pm, the French had advanced nearly a mile, but had been spent. Russian regular cavalry counterattacked the French right, and before long the French were forced to begin a retreat of their own by 4pm. With the Russians now closing on Wiederitzsch, Napoleon ordered Bessieres to launch another attack with the guard cavalry, supported by infantry of the young guard on both flanks.
The French counterattack stopped the Russians and Swedes cold, as they were thrown back in disarray. Marshal Oudinot had his ear shot through, but his young guardsmen had shattered the Swedish army. Critically, many senior officers were killed or captured, including seven generals. in a single day, the Swedish army had lost nearly a quarter of its strength, a devestating blow to the nation. In total, the first day's fighting at Leipzig had cost both sides about 25,000 casualties. Napoleon had failed to defeat the Army of Silesia, and overnight, the Army of Poland would arrive to the South. As dusk fell, fighting gradually tapered off across the line.
______
Marshal Oudinot pressed a crimson stained bandage to his ear as he strode about the corpse strewn battlefield, still giving orders "Keep all the light infantry committed until dark." He gestured North "I want sentries set up, they may try something." The young guardsmen were hardly older than the rest of the army, but they'd done well. The marshal still felt proud, even as his ear burned furiously "Perhaps you should have the surgeon look at that." One of his aides pleaded "Later, this is nothing much." He assured them. He saw many Swedish officers, some wounded, others standing about indignantly. "Sir!" A major called out. "I have... a prisoner you'll want to meet." "Another general?" Oudinot asked exitedly.
"No sir." Oudinot turned, and almost went slack jawed at what he saw "You, oh for fucks sake!" "Oudinot, it had to be you, the fucking moron." The former Marshal turned prince, spat back. Oudinot let out an exhasperated chuckle "This is perfect! Too perfect! The Emperor will love this!" "You ass." Bernadotte seethed. Oudinot called up an aide "See that the 'prince' here is escorted back to Leipzig, treat him with the respect of his position of course." "I'll see to it sir!" The aide called back as he offered a fresh horse to Bernadotte, who being out of alternatives, reluctantly mouted the horse and rode off. Oudinot now stood alone with the corpses of boys less than half his age, and with his enthusiasm crushed, walked off to see to his ear...
He's being deliberately vague, he won't give up much at all in reality
He's hoping to achieve a favorable peace, he kinda knows his credibility is shot post Russia.
More or less to reestablish the status quo of 1812
Sounds as an extremely low probability all the way to him seemingly playing some kind of a subordinate role incompatible with his position. Ditto for his battlefield performance comparing to one of Oudinot whom he defeated at Großbeeren. In general, ITTL Bernadotte looks like a nincompoop, which was definitely not the case militarily and politically.
And how many people of that rank had been captured on a battlefield during the whole Napoleonic wars?
Intermission
The streets of Leipzig were deserted, save for the occassional wagon of supplies and countless wounded. Storerooms, shops, churches, all had been converted into makeshift field hospitals, where the anguished wails of soldiers could be heard alongside the rhythmic thumping of saws chewing through flesh and bone. In the parlour of some absent German aristocrat, Napoleon wearily oversaw the reports on the status of his embattled army. Most of his marshals had assembled, but the most prominent of them was Oudinot, who'd come to show off his prize.
"Well, Duke of Reggio, you've certainly earned your pay this evening." Napoleon mused aloud as his marshals crowded around to see their former comrade "This is certainly quite a sight." Davout quipped from the back of the room "Though come to think, this should be a notable chapter in your illustrious career, right up there with your famed support at Auerstedt, or your legendary defense of Aderklaa. Bernadotte simply turned up his nose at Davout's barbs "You're an insufferable lot, all of you to a man." "And you're a beak-nosed little prick." Oudinot replied crudely, as Mortier snickered quietly behind him.
Napoleon stood as the room fell silent. "Oh Bernadotte, what to do with you, what to do with you." Berthier spoke up "I say we send a letter to the Tsar "We have the Prince of Sweden, and he'll be returned to his homeland, in how many pieces said return is conducted depends on you..." Napoleon chuckled "Tempting, but best not to start up that kingslaying nonsense again." He tapped Bernadotte on the chest "You're royal highness is free to leave." He pointed to Bessieres "Please have an escort provided for him." "Of course sire." Bessieres led the ex-marshal out into the street." "Is that wise, sire?" Massèna now spoke up, even as his health forced him to slump into his chair. Napoleon nodded "After Russia, all of Europe surely sees me as unreliable. This will show they can reason with me, it's a start at least."
He turned to Ney "Is Alexander here at last?" "Afraid so sire." Ney nodded grimly "At least the bulk of him is, my sentries have been at it the past three hours, they aren't letting up. "Alright, then here's what I'll do. Masséna, you'll forgive me if I relieve you tonight, you're in no shape to command "Of course sire, I'll try and make myself useful in town, somehow." Napoleon nodded "We're overextended in the South, Ney, I want everything you already have in a line between..." He glanced at a map "Probstheida and Sellerhausen. Wrede, Lauriston, finish the line to Connewitz."
The men nodded, though Davout stood once more "If I may be so bold, what is his majesties objective for tomarrow?" Napoleon frowed "We'll try and throw back one of the enemy armies, but if that fails we'll withdraw tomarrow night. Good night gentlemen." The officers took their cue, and filed out swiftly, a few muttering a reply, Marmont and Oudinot exiting last as they compared wounds. Nobody had the stomach for what they knew would come next...
"Well, Duke of Reggio, you've certainly earned your pay this evening." Napoleon mused aloud as his marshals crowded around to see their former comrade "This is certainly quite a sight." Davout quipped from the back of the room "Though come to think, this should be a notable chapter in your illustrious career, right up there with your famed support at Auerstedt, or your legendary defense of Aderklaa. Bernadotte simply turned up his nose at Davout's barbs "You're an insufferable lot, all of you to a man." "And you're a beak-nosed little prick." Oudinot replied crudely, as Mortier snickered quietly behind him.
Napoleon stood as the room fell silent. "Oh Bernadotte, what to do with you, what to do with you." Berthier spoke up "I say we send a letter to the Tsar "We have the Prince of Sweden, and he'll be returned to his homeland, in how many pieces said return is conducted depends on you..." Napoleon chuckled "Tempting, but best not to start up that kingslaying nonsense again." He tapped Bernadotte on the chest "You're royal highness is free to leave." He pointed to Bessieres "Please have an escort provided for him." "Of course sire." Bessieres led the ex-marshal out into the street." "Is that wise, sire?" Massèna now spoke up, even as his health forced him to slump into his chair. Napoleon nodded "After Russia, all of Europe surely sees me as unreliable. This will show they can reason with me, it's a start at least."
He turned to Ney "Is Alexander here at last?" "Afraid so sire." Ney nodded grimly "At least the bulk of him is, my sentries have been at it the past three hours, they aren't letting up. "Alright, then here's what I'll do. Masséna, you'll forgive me if I relieve you tonight, you're in no shape to command "Of course sire, I'll try and make myself useful in town, somehow." Napoleon nodded "We're overextended in the South, Ney, I want everything you already have in a line between..." He glanced at a map "Probstheida and Sellerhausen. Wrede, Lauriston, finish the line to Connewitz."
The men nodded, though Davout stood once more "If I may be so bold, what is his majesties objective for tomarrow?" Napoleon frowed "We'll try and throw back one of the enemy armies, but if that fails we'll withdraw tomarrow night. Good night gentlemen." The officers took their cue, and filed out swiftly, a few muttering a reply, Marmont and Oudinot exiting last as they compared wounds. Nobody had the stomach for what they knew would come next...
“Little prick?” I could not find anything about Oudinot’s height but if very tall Bernadotte is “little”, surely Nappy, Berthier and Davout who are present may start feeling themselves gnomes. 😂
Far it would be from me to criticize your personal taste…. Well, nobody said that a garden gnome has to be cute. 😂
"Nobody had the stomach"- just because of the inevitable scale of slaughter, or is something more underhanded afoot?
If Napoleon loses here it'll actually be pretty embarrassing for his reputation, since without Austria the coalition isn't in as obviously strong a position.
If Napoleon loses here it'll actually be pretty embarrassing for his reputation, since without Austria the coalition isn't in as obviously strong a position.
The Battle of Leipzig, Part 3
As The Army of Poland arrived to the South of Leipzig in the evening of the 22nd, skirmishes broke out almost immediately between the light infantry of both sides. Ney wanted to cover his withdrawal North, and so continued to pour reinforcements into the night skirmish. The result was perhaps one of the largest night battles of the Napoleonic wars, with over 15,000 soldiers on each side participating in a confused brawl in the fields between Gallows Hill and Probstheida. By dawn, with his redeployment complete and his new corps securing his flank, Ney dared Barclay to come after him, and the Russian general was quick to oblige.
In the North, Blucher seemed ready to withdraw, though Napoleon wisely decided to wait before attacking. The withdrawal was a ruse, and seeing that the French weren't taking the bait, ordered Yorck to attack Mockern once more. Bennigsen meanwhile, supported by the released Bernadotte, already back in command of the Swedes, launched his own attack on Wiederitzsch. Close ranged artillery support meant the coalition losses were terrible, but by 10am, they'd managed to push their way into the village. East of Mockern, General Sander's Swedish division attempted to cut off Marmont, whose II Corps was in a savage struggle for the village.
______
"Say again!" Marshal Marmont screamed as the world seemed to be coming to an end around him. The roar of his own cannon mixed with crashing of wood and stone, as Prussian roundshot smashed through buildings and men alike, the streets full of crimson smears that had once been men. "Swedish troops are massing for an attack on our right! Sir!" The aide shouted back. Marmont scowled, he thought he'd seen war before, but this was ludicrous. All around him men scurried, some with purpose, others seemed dazed, stunned by the sheer brutality unfolding around them "Tell general-" As he prepared his order, a cannonball skipped down the street, reducing the aide to yet another bloody smear before he could even shriek, and misting down Marmont with blood and viscera in the process "Gah- Christ!" The Marshal struggled to compose himself, before spotting a major nearby "Tell General Delmas to wheel his division to cover right flank!" The Major seemed stunned "Now Major!" Marmont roared. The officer nodded and scampered off to find a horse, and Marmont turned back to his corps. He had just enough time to notice a black spot rapidly grow in his vision, before the shot ripped through his abdomen. He felt the odd sensation of the morning air on his entrails, before the world went black...
_____
To the South, Ney's skirmishers were repulsed in force, and heavy fighting broke out along entire line. In particular, Davout's corps in Probatheida came under attack from an entire Russian corps. Barclay intended to drive straight against the walls of Leipzig themselves, hoping to cut off as much of the Southern sector as possible. To the West, Connwitz fell after a short but bloody clash between Wrede and Baggovout's corps, though the Bavarian field marshal was able to form a new defensive line North of the town. Barclay's right flank now began its assault driving Maison out of Paunsdorf, and mauling Poniatowski to the South. There was a brief scare when Tsar Alexander himself had his horse killed under him, but he was uninjured.
By 3pm Napoleon was hard pressed on every front, even as he held on for dear life. Mockern finally fell, as Prussian and Swedish Cuirassiers nearly routed Nansouty's cavalry. Wiederitzsch briefly fell, forcing Napoleon to order up Mortier and the old guard to retake it, which was swiftly achieved. Marshal Oudinot was wounded by canister, but remained in command. The French did snag a late success that day, when Reynier's XII Corps outflanked his Russian counterpart, who was then charged down by guard cavalry. The French and allies had suffered another 25,000 casualties, the Coalition losing 33,000.
Napleon had intended to continue the fight the next day, but upon learning the scale of his losses, particularly in cavalry, he was persuaded to withdraw. Luckily, Marshal Masséna, who'd been too ill to command the North, had taken charge of the engineers. Two additional bridges were ready by midnight, and the Grande Armée began crossing the Elster bridge. Blucher was alerted to the withdrawl, and launched a frenzied pursuit. The Prussians even surged through the gates, and confused street fighting broke out in Leipzig. Marshal Davout had volunteered to lead the readguard, and checked Blucher long enough for the rest of the army to escape, and then ensured his own corps did as well. By 6am, the battle was over, and the French left behind a corpse-filled, traumatized city for the Coalition...
In the North, Blucher seemed ready to withdraw, though Napoleon wisely decided to wait before attacking. The withdrawal was a ruse, and seeing that the French weren't taking the bait, ordered Yorck to attack Mockern once more. Bennigsen meanwhile, supported by the released Bernadotte, already back in command of the Swedes, launched his own attack on Wiederitzsch. Close ranged artillery support meant the coalition losses were terrible, but by 10am, they'd managed to push their way into the village. East of Mockern, General Sander's Swedish division attempted to cut off Marmont, whose II Corps was in a savage struggle for the village.
______
"Say again!" Marshal Marmont screamed as the world seemed to be coming to an end around him. The roar of his own cannon mixed with crashing of wood and stone, as Prussian roundshot smashed through buildings and men alike, the streets full of crimson smears that had once been men. "Swedish troops are massing for an attack on our right! Sir!" The aide shouted back. Marmont scowled, he thought he'd seen war before, but this was ludicrous. All around him men scurried, some with purpose, others seemed dazed, stunned by the sheer brutality unfolding around them "Tell general-" As he prepared his order, a cannonball skipped down the street, reducing the aide to yet another bloody smear before he could even shriek, and misting down Marmont with blood and viscera in the process "Gah- Christ!" The Marshal struggled to compose himself, before spotting a major nearby "Tell General Delmas to wheel his division to cover right flank!" The Major seemed stunned "Now Major!" Marmont roared. The officer nodded and scampered off to find a horse, and Marmont turned back to his corps. He had just enough time to notice a black spot rapidly grow in his vision, before the shot ripped through his abdomen. He felt the odd sensation of the morning air on his entrails, before the world went black...
_____
To the South, Ney's skirmishers were repulsed in force, and heavy fighting broke out along entire line. In particular, Davout's corps in Probatheida came under attack from an entire Russian corps. Barclay intended to drive straight against the walls of Leipzig themselves, hoping to cut off as much of the Southern sector as possible. To the West, Connwitz fell after a short but bloody clash between Wrede and Baggovout's corps, though the Bavarian field marshal was able to form a new defensive line North of the town. Barclay's right flank now began its assault driving Maison out of Paunsdorf, and mauling Poniatowski to the South. There was a brief scare when Tsar Alexander himself had his horse killed under him, but he was uninjured.
By 3pm Napoleon was hard pressed on every front, even as he held on for dear life. Mockern finally fell, as Prussian and Swedish Cuirassiers nearly routed Nansouty's cavalry. Wiederitzsch briefly fell, forcing Napoleon to order up Mortier and the old guard to retake it, which was swiftly achieved. Marshal Oudinot was wounded by canister, but remained in command. The French did snag a late success that day, when Reynier's XII Corps outflanked his Russian counterpart, who was then charged down by guard cavalry. The French and allies had suffered another 25,000 casualties, the Coalition losing 33,000.
Napleon had intended to continue the fight the next day, but upon learning the scale of his losses, particularly in cavalry, he was persuaded to withdraw. Luckily, Marshal Masséna, who'd been too ill to command the North, had taken charge of the engineers. Two additional bridges were ready by midnight, and the Grande Armée began crossing the Elster bridge. Blucher was alerted to the withdrawl, and launched a frenzied pursuit. The Prussians even surged through the gates, and confused street fighting broke out in Leipzig. Marshal Davout had volunteered to lead the readguard, and checked Blucher long enough for the rest of the army to escape, and then ensured his own corps did as well. By 6am, the battle was over, and the French left behind a corpse-filled, traumatized city for the Coalition...
Excellent job writing the battle! The coalition "won" but as always the real winner of war are the ravens and vultures.
Bloody. Napoleon's withdrawn in good order, but he's still lost most of Germany. No doubt Austria will join in after this. Being unbloodied so far, I expect they will make up a larger part of the invasion of France than OTL.
Part 35-An Mein Volk
Dresden, July 25th, 1813
It was a beautiful summer day in the Saxon capital, but not a particularly noteworthy one. Citygoers milled about, to their homes or shops or wherever else. Men in both Saxon white and French blue milled about the bustling streets, which were bustling more than usual, as many peasants from the country had fled to the safety of the fortress city. While the carnage of war remained at arms length for now, the fact that the town gossip had been replaced by mutterings of casualty reports and bread prices showed a quiet tension in the citizens.
Corporals Henri Lefèvre and François Dubois were among those out and about. With the Russian threat having moved North, and the city's defenses prepared, the garrison could afford some leisure. "Sounds like The Emperor and Tsar are about to go at it." Henri said apprehensively. "Mmm. Could already be." François replied, hardly paying attention. "Lucky us, I suppose." "Mhm- oh, have a look there my friend." Henri said, gesturing as he noticed a local women smiling at them down the street.
The soldiers approched her eagerly "Hello gentlemen!" She greeted them in surprisingly good French "Afternoon madame." Henri replied, smitten "Corporals Lefèvre and Dubois, our pleasure." The woman laughed "My, such lovely boys Napoleon has sent us! My name is Ms. Sophie Fischer." She extended her hand "Would you gentlemen help a lady home." Dubois eagerly took her offer "Of course madame! We French still have our honor." She led the two soliders down a handfull of blocks, before turning onto a small alleyway.
"Is this the place, miss?" Henri asked her "Certainly is." She replied plainly, and upon observing that the trio was alone, pulled out a dagger. In a fluid strike, Dubois was slashed through the throat, reeling to the ground as he drowned in his blood "You!?" Was all a startled Henri could mutter before she drove the blade deep into his stomach. Stunned, Henri gasped as he gazed down at the knife in his torso, the words "An Mein Volk" Etched into the blade. "Hell." She spat at Henri in his native tongue "Is far to kind for you, filth." The Frenchman stumbled, then the world faded out...
Now, when the Saxons are finally in the picture, how about them and Bernadotte? 😉
Seriously, the Saxon officers had been drinking his health even when they were on the opposite side and that thing at Leipzig probably was quite spectacular. So far, in your TL B looks pretty much as a helpless nincompoop whom everybody is pushing around and who is given a subordinate position and happy with it. Of course, it is up to you but in 1813 he was not just a top ranking but also the most reputable commander in the allied camp with a big Prussian contingent under his command and at least two important victories at his credit.
I don't have anything against Bernadotte, though I can see where you'd get that impression. If anything, I'd think him rushing back to command and leading his men immediately after being captured would make him look good to his peers. He'll certainly getting more chances for independant command as things unfold.