After Jena-Auerstedt, the broken Prussian armies crossed the Elbe River and fled to the northeast in an attempt to reach the east bank of the Oder. Following a two-week chase, Marshal Joachim Murat intercepted over 10,000 Prussians at the Battle of Prenzlau and bluffed them into surrendering on 28 October. The following day, Lasalle’s and another French light cavalry brigade induced 4,200 more Prussians to lay down their weapons in the Capitulation of Pasewalk. On the afternoon of the 29th, Lasalle appeared before the fortress of Stettin and demanded its surrender. A completely unnerved Romberg, believing he was confronted by 30,000 Frenchmen, entered into negotiations with Lasalle and surrendered Stettin that night. Estimates of the numbers vary between 500 French hussars of the 5th and 7th French Hussars and 5,000 to 6,000 Prussians within the garrison.
The capitulation was humiliating, as Stettin could have mounted a strong defense or at the very least, allowed its garrison to withdraw east to rejoin Prussian forces. But the Prussians were demoralized after a series of defeats, with the recent capitulation at Prenzlau setting a discouraging example. As Lannes noted, “The Prussian army is in such a state of panic that the mere appearance of a Frenchman is enough to make it lay down its arms.”
Napoleon later mocked these events, reportedly congratulating Murat with the remark:
“My compliments on the capture of Stettin; if your light cavalry thus takes fortified towns, I must disband the engineers and melt down my heavy artillery.”
introvirtuous_lion on
Jokes on you, Jean Lannes was easily worth 30000 cavalry alone.
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Context from Wikipedia:
After Jena-Auerstedt, the broken Prussian armies crossed the Elbe River and fled to the northeast in an attempt to reach the east bank of the Oder. Following a two-week chase, Marshal Joachim Murat intercepted over 10,000 Prussians at the Battle of Prenzlau and bluffed them into surrendering on 28 October. The following day, Lasalle’s and another French light cavalry brigade induced 4,200 more Prussians to lay down their weapons in the Capitulation of Pasewalk. On the afternoon of the 29th, Lasalle appeared before the fortress of Stettin and demanded its surrender. A completely unnerved Romberg, believing he was confronted by 30,000 Frenchmen, entered into negotiations with Lasalle and surrendered Stettin that night. Estimates of the numbers vary between 500 French hussars of the 5th and 7th French Hussars and 5,000 to 6,000 Prussians within the garrison.
The capitulation was humiliating, as Stettin could have mounted a strong defense or at the very least, allowed its garrison to withdraw east to rejoin Prussian forces. But the Prussians were demoralized after a series of defeats, with the recent capitulation at Prenzlau setting a discouraging example. As Lannes noted, “The Prussian army is in such a state of panic that the mere appearance of a Frenchman is enough to make it lay down its arms.”
Napoleon later mocked these events, reportedly congratulating Murat with the remark:
“My compliments on the capture of Stettin; if your light cavalry thus takes fortified towns, I must disband the engineers and melt down my heavy artillery.”
Jokes on you, Jean Lannes was easily worth 30000 cavalry alone.