The situation had changed on the afternoon of the 13th with contact being made with the Prussians. Bernadotte staying to the letter of an order that was now overcome by events clearly indicates that he had no intention of supporting Davout no matter what the situation was. Those are the actions of a thorough pedant or of abandoning a comrade-in-arms before a fight began.

Kevin:
Contact had been 'made' off and on throughout the days leading up to the 14th. Neither Davout or Bernadotte or Napoleon knew the main Prussian army was to the west of them. And Napoleon's orders came at 3am of the 14th from a 10pm order, so there is no reason to believe that Napoleon had not received Davout's reports about that 'contact' earlier. Such 'contact is detailed by Bressonet IIRC. In other words, the situation was not perceived to have changed and Napoleon's orders both Bernadotte's and Davout's subsequent march and Davout's AAR for that morning supports that conclusion. To say they, Bernadotte or Davout *should* have known is pure hindsight. I can only conclude what Maude concludes based on the evidence. Bernadotte can't be faulted for following the orders as given.

It is clear from the orders that Napoleon had no intention of Bernadotte supporting Davout, but rather he wanted him in Dornberg and Davout someplace else, Of course, this was based on what Napoleon thought he knew at the time. with no instructions for support, only noting that the two corps could march together as they would be parralleling each other for part of the way--but not even half the way to Dornburg. The courtmartial that Napoleon contempated was for Bernadotte's tardy march to Dornburg, and total non-engagement, not his lack of support to Davout. Bernadotte may have been all the things you say and more. His actions suggest a badly negligent officer, not one bent on fulfilling some grudge or purposeful treachery.

As with most questions regarding evidence, we will need to agree to disagree.

Bill