Dear Bill

I certainly agree that after the fact, he did make the wrong decision.

How do you come to that assesment?

In case, then I say Davout make the wrong decision, attacking with his own corps the Prussian main army?

As I stated before, confirmed by all sources, Davout was unaware that the Prussian main army was against him. He knew about the vedettes, that's it.
According to the picture of the overall situation he (as well as Bernadotte) did know that Lannes was confronting about 50 000 Prussians and that more Prussians were in the west of the Prussians before Hohenlohe, Napoleon was prepearing for battle at the 14th at that area.

For that reason, also Davout's march at the start of the 14th October followed the typical dictums of a corps on the march, each division had about one lieue marchng distance, that is no full concentration, also Davout was not that ready for battle on the spot - simply because also he was completly ignorant of the true overall situation.

Only after running into the Prussian units (which also arrived piecemeal on the battle field) it must be slowly evident that he ran into a big Prussian force.

Now - in case he would have known this before - he would certainly have concentrated his divisions and put up a defensive position - maybe defending Naumburg.

In case Bernadotte would have also known that Davout was in front of the Prussian main army, he would, as Davout - asked urgently Napoléon what to do.

And Napoléon himself?

He was still in the opinion at the 15th that he fought against the Prussian main army, accusing that Davout had double visions when the ADC of Davout reported the victory of Auerstedt against overwhelming odds.

Hypotetical, what would have Napoleon done, in case Davout would have reported at the eve or late night of the 13th that the Prussian main army was in front of him? Would he believed this? All his units were concentrating around Jena or in such a position as moving sur les arrieres.

What could Bernadotte do? Reporting - Sire, the Prussian main army is in front of the 3e corps - so Davout and myself decided to put up a defensive position at Naumburg, don't reckon with us at Jena?

I cannot see any other way how Bernadotte could react as he did. He had his orders and he had to make up the situation according to the reports from the Etat - Major.

It is surprising - that he did not received any direct order.
It is surprising that the post mortem attack against him only started when Napoléon did himself confirm that Davout was right.
It is surprising that the came under the wrath of Berthier again at Barby at a much more rediculous situation.

What was the intent of Berthier and Napoléon to keep attacking Bernadotte, a trustworth corps commander?