Napoleon speaks to Bavarian troops.
The
Battle of Abensberg was fought on 20 April 1809, between an Allied force under the command of Emperor
Napoleon I of France on one side and three Austrian corps led by
Johann von Hiller ,
Archduke Louis of Austria , and
Michael von Kienmayer . The Austrians formed the left wing of
Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen 's main army and were under the overall command of Hiller. Napoleon's
French troops, reinforced by troops from the
Kingdom of Bavaria and the
Kingdom of Württemberg outfought their opponents, inflicted heavy losses, and forced the Austrians to retreat to the southeast.
During the fighting, 55,000 French and Germans faced 42,000 Austrians. Of these, only about 25,000 on each side became involved in the fighting. The Austrians lost 2,710 killed and wounded, plus about 4,000 captured.
[1] Allied losses were 215 Frenchmen, 146 Württembergers, and 746 Bavarians, for a total of 1,107.
[2]
Austrian forces
Left Wing: Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Johann von Hiller
VI Armeekorps
Johann von Hiller
Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Johann von Hiller (35,639)
[3]
[4]
Reserve Artillery: Feldmarschall-Leutnant Karl von Rouvroy
Three 12-pdr position batteries (18 guns), 6-pdr position battery (6 guns)
Division: Feldmarschall-Leutnant Friedrich Kottulinsky
Brigade: General-Major Otto Hohenfeld
Klebek Infantry Regiment # 14 (3 battalions)
Jordis Infantry Regiment # 59 (3 battalions)
6-pdr brigade battery (8 guns)
Brigade: General-Major Nikolaus Weissenwolf
Deutschmeister Infantry Regiment # 4 (3 battalions)
Kerpen Infantry Regiment # 49 (3 battalions)
6-pdr brigade battery (8 guns)
Artillery: 6-pdr position battery (6 guns)
Division: Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Franz Jellacic (Jellacic detached at Munich)
Brigade: General-Major Josef Hoffmeister (Brigade attached to Vincent)
Benjowsky Infantry Regiment # 31 (3 battalions)
Splenyi Infantry Regiment # 51 (3 battalions)
6-pdr brigade battery (8 guns)
Brigade: General-Major Konstantin Ettingshausen (Brigade detached at Munich)
Esterhazy Infantry Regiment # 32 (3 battalions)
De Vaux Infantry Regiment # 45 (3 battalions)
6-pdr brigade battery (8 guns)
Artillery: 6-pdr position battery (6 guns)
Light Division: Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Karl von Vincent
Brigade: General-Major Karl Dollmayer von Provenchères (Brigade detached at Munich)
[5]
Warasdin-Kreutzer
Grenz Infantry Regiment # 5 (2 battalions)
4th, 5th, 6th Vienna Freiwilligers battalions
O'Reilly Chevauxleger Regiment # 3 (8 squadrons)
3-pdr Grenz brigade battery (8 guns)
6-pdr cavalry battery (6 guns)
Brigade: General-Major
Armand von Nordmann (Brigade detached at Moosburg)
Warasdin-St. George Grenz Infantry Regiment # 6 (2 battalions)
Rosenberg Chevauxleger Regiment # 6 (8 squadrons)
Liechtenstein
Hussar Regiment # 7 (8 squadrons)
3-pdr Grenz brigade battery (8 guns)
6-pdr cavalry battery (6 guns)
V Armeekorps
Archduke Louis
Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Archduke Louis (32,266)
[3]
[6]
Reserve Artillery: Major Adam Pfefferkorn
Two 12-pdr position batteries (12 guns), one 6-pdr cavalry battery (6 guns)
Brigade: General-Major Ludwig Thierry (Brigade attached from III Armeekorps)
Kaiser Infantry Regiment # 1 (3 battalions)
Lindenau Infantry Regiment # 29 (3 battalions)
6-pdr brigade battery (8 guns)
Division: Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Karl Friedrich von Lindenau (Division detached to I Reserve Armeekorps)
Brigade: General-Major Josef Mayer
Archduke Charles Infantry Regiment # 3 (3 battalions)
Stain Infantry Regiment # 50 (3 battalions)
6-pdr brigade battery (8 guns)
Brigade: General-Major Ignaz Buol von Berenburg
Hiller Infantry Regiment # 2 (3 battalions)
Sztarrai Infantry Regiment # 33 (3 battalions)
Artillery: 6-pdr position battery (6 guns)
Division: Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Prince Heinrich XV of Reuss-Plauen
Brigade: General-Major
Frederick Bianchi, Duke of Casalanza
Duka Infantry Regiment # 39 (3 battalions)
Gyulai Infantry Regiment # 60 (3 battalions)
6-pdr brigade battery (8 guns)
Brigade: General-Major Franz Johann Schulz von Rothacker
Beaulieu Infantry Regiment # 58 (3 battalions)
1st, 2nd, 3rd Vienna Freiwilligers battalions
Artillery: 6-pdr position battery (6 guns)
Light Division: Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Emmanuel von Schustekh-Herve
Brigade: General-Major
Joseph, Baron von Mesko de Felsö-Kubiny
Broder Grenz Infantry Regiment # 7 (2 battalions)
Kienmayer Hussar Regiment # 8 (8 squadrons)
3-pdr Grenz brigade battery (8 guns)
Brigade: General-Major
Joseph Radetzky von Radetz
Gradiscaner Grenz Infantry Regiment # 8 (2 battalions)
Archduke Charles
Uhlan Regiment # 3 (8 squadrons)
Artillery: 6-pdr cavalry battery (6 guns)
II Reserve Armeekorps
Michael von Kienmayer
Feldmarschall-Leutnant
Michael von Kienmayer (7,975)
[3]
[7]
Brigade: General-Major
Konstantin Ghilian Karl d'Aspré
Puteani
Grenadier battalion
Brezeczinsky Grenadier battalion
Scovaud Grenadier battalion
Kirchenbetter Grenadier battalion
Scharlach Grenadier battalion
6-pdr brigade battery (8 guns)
Brigade: General-Major Andreas von Schneller (Brigade detached to I Reserve Armeekorps)
Kaiser
Cuirassier Regiment # 1 (6 squadrons)
Gottesheim Cuirassier Regiment # 6 (6 squadrons)
6-pdr cavalry battery (6 guns)
Brigade: General-Major Josef von Clary (4 squadrons attached to Thierry)
Levenehr
Dragoon Regiment # 4 (6 squadrons)
Württemberg Dragoon Regiment # 3 (6 squadrons)
6-pdr cavalry battery (6 guns)
Generals
Prince Reuss
Franz Jellacic
Josef Radetzky
Frederick Bianchi
Konstantin d'Aspré
French-Allied forces
Grande Armée:
Napoleon I of France
Provisional Corps
Jean Lannes
Marshal
Jean Lannes
[8]
Cavalry Brigade:
General of Brigade Charles Claude Jacquinot (Attached from Montbrun)
1st
Chasseurs à cheval Regiment (3 squadrons)
2nd Chasseurs à cheval Regiment (3 squadrons)
12th Chasseurs à cheval Regiment (3 squadrons)
1st Division:
General of Division
Charles Antoine Morand (11,065) (Attached from III Corps)
Brigade: General of Brigade Nicolas Guiot de Lacour
13th Light Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
17th Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
30th Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
Brigade: General of Brigade François l'Huillier de Hoff
61st Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
65th Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions) (Regiment detached at Regensburg)
Divisional Artillery: 8-pdr foot battery (8 guns), 4-pdr horse battery (4 guns)
3rd Division: General of Division
Charles-Étienne Gudin de La Sablonnière (11,440) (Attached from III Corps)
Brigade: General of Brigade Claude Petit
7th Light Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
Brigade: General of Brigade Pierre Boyer
12th Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
21st Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
Brigade: General of Brigade Jean Duppelin
25th Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
85th Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
Divisional Artillery: 8-pdr foot battery (6 guns), 4-pdr horse battery (6 guns)
1st Heavy Cavalry Division: General of Division
Étienne Marie Antoine Champion de Nansouty (5,337) (Attached from Reserve)
Brigade: General of Brigade
Jean-Marie Defrance
1st Carabinier Regiment (4 squadrons)
2nd Carabinier Regiment (4 squadrons)
Brigade: General of Brigade
Jean-Pierre Doumerc
2nd Cuirassier Regiment (4 squadrons)
9th Cuirassier Regiment (4 squadrons)
Brigade: General of Brigade
Antoine Louis Decrest de Saint-Germain
3rd Cuirassier Regiment (4 squadrons)
12th Cuirassier Regiment (4 squadrons)
Divisional Artillery: Two 8-pdr horse batteries (12 guns)
2nd Heavy Cavalry Division: General of Division
Raymond-Gaspard de Bonardi de Saint-Sulpice (3,411) (Attached from III Corps, one brigade guarding Saal)
[9]
Brigade: General of Brigade François Marie Clément de la Roncière
1st Cuirassier Regiment (4 squadrons)
5th Cuirassier Regiment (4 squadrons)
Brigade: General of Brigade Marie Adrien François Guiton
10th Cuirassier Regiment (4 squadrons)
11th Cuirassier Regiment (4 squadrons)
Divisional Artillery: 8-pdr horse battery (6 guns)
VII (Bavarian) Corps
François Lefebvre
Marshal
François Joseph Lefebvre
[10]
Artillery Reserve: Colonel Calonge
Three 12-pdr position batteries (18 guns)
1st Bavarian Division: Lieutenant-General
Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria
Brigade: General-Major Rechberg
1st Habermann Light battalion
Leib Regiment (2 battalions)
2nd Prince Royal Regiment (2 battalions)
Brigade: General-Major Stengel
4th Salern Regiment (2 battalions)
8th Duc Pius Regiment (2 battalions)
Cavalry Brigade: General-Major Zandt
Minuzzi Dragoon Regiment (2 squadrons)
Prince Royal
Chevau-léger Regiment (4 squadrons)
Artillery: Two 6-pdr foot batteries, 6-pdr horse battery (18 guns)
2nd Bavarian Division: Lieutenant-General
Karl Philipp von Wrede
Brigade: General-Major Minuzzi
6th Laroche Light battalion
3rd Prince Karl Regiment (2 battalions)
13th Regiment (2 battalions)
Brigade: General-Major Beckers
6th Duc Wilhelm Regiment (2 battalions)
7th Löwenstein Regiment (2 battalions)
Cavalry Brigade: General-Major Preysing
König Chevau-léger Regiment (4 squadrons)
Leiningen Chevau-léger Regiment (4 squadrons)
Artillery: Two 6-pdr foot batteries, 6-pdr horse battery (18 guns)
3rd Bavarian Division: Lieutenant-General
Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy
Brigade: General-Major Siebein
5th Buttler Light battalion
9th Isenburg Regiment (2 battalions)
10th Juncker Regiment (2 battalions)
Brigade: General-Major Vincenti
7th Günter Light battalion
5th Regiment (2 battalions)
14th Preysing Regiment (2 battalions)
Cavalry Brigade: General-Major Seydewitz
Taxis Dragoon Regiment (4 squadrons)
Bubenhoven Chevau-léger Regiment (4 squadrons)
Artillery: Two 6-pdr foot batteries, 6-pdr horse battery (18 guns)
Württemberg (later VIII) Corps
Dominique Vandamme
General of Division
Dominique Vandamme
[11]
Reserve Artillery: Colonel Schnadow
6-pdr foot battery (10 guns), two 6-pdr horse batteries (12 guns)
Württemberg Infantry Division: Lieutenant General Neubronn
Brigade: General-Major
Friedrich von Franquemont
Prince Royal Regiment (2 battalions)
Duc Wilhelm Regiment (2 battalions)
1st battalion Neubronn Fusilier Regiment
Brigade: General-Major Scharfenstein
Phull Regiment (2 battalions)
Camrer Regiment (2 battalions)
2nd battalion Neubronn Fusilier Regiment
Light Brigade: General-Major Hügel
König
Jäger battalion
1st Wolff Light battalion
2nd Bruselle Light battalion
Württemberg Cavalry Division: Lieutenant General Wöllwarth
Brigade: General-Major Roeder
König Chevau-léger Regiment (4 squadrons)
Duc Henry Chevau-léger Regiment (4 squadrons)
Brigade: General-Major Stettner
König Chasseurs à cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
Duc Louis Chevau-léger Regiment (4 squadrons)
Generals
Charles Morand
Charles Gudin
Étienne Nansouty
Jean Doumerc
Jean Defrance
Karl von Wrede
^ Petre, p 139
^ Arnold, p 120
^
a
b
c Arnold, p 235. Strength only.
^ Bowden & Tarbox, pp 70–71. Order of battle.
^ Arnold, p 260n. Jellacic had exchanged Hoffmeister's brigade for Dollmayer's.
^ Bowden & Tarbox, pp 69–70
^ Bowden & Tarbox, p 72. Order of battle.
^ Bowden & Tarbox, pp 57–59
^ Petre, p 133. Petre does not specify which brigade was detached at Saal an der Donau.
^ Bowden & Tarbox, pp 61–62
^ Bowden & Tarbox, p 62
References
Bibliography
Arnold, James. Crisis on the Danube: Napoleon’s Austrian Campaign of 1809 . London: Arms and Armour, 1990. (New York: Paragon House, 1990)
ISBN
1-55778-137-0
Bowden, Scotty & Tarbox, Charlie. Armies on the Danube 1809 . Arlington, Texas: Empire Games Press, 1980.
Petre, F. Loraine . Napoleon and the Archduke Charles . New York: Hippocrene Books, (1909) 1976.
Smith, Digby . The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill, 1998.
ISBN
1-85367-276-9
External links
The following two websites are excellent sources for the full names of French and Austrian generals.