ABSTRACT
T HE EMPEROR'S INSTINCTS were quite right, for unlike Napoleon, who alone exercised the sole and unified command of the new Grande Armee and the bodies of troops from his own allies and clients which formed a part of it, the allies — at this stage only Russia and Prussia — began even as early as February 1813 to suffer the difficulties of prosecuting coalition warfare. The difficulties of divided command within the Russian Army have already been mentioned, but between the Russians and Prussians there were inevitable disagreements based on national interest. The Russians, not unnaturally, were anxious to preserve their lines of communication through Poland. The Prussians, equally, were anxious to cover Berlin.
