From the journal of Field Marshall
Lieutenant Auffenburg
When I awoke on this foggy morning, there was news that the
advance guard of Napoleon's Grand Army under Marshalls Murat and
Lannes had crossed the Danube and was sitting opposite my army, just
on the other side of Wertingen. We were taken a little unprepared:
two of our infantry brigades were in an exposed position on my left
flank, while nearly a third of my army under the direction of Prince
Hohenzollern was some distance away and I feared that he could not
bring those forces to bear before the battle was underway.
There was not even enough time to shave
before I heard the sounds of gunfire from the vulnerable left flank.
I later learned that Oudinot's dangerous French infantry had moved
forward into the woods for cover, but my men engaged them immediately
and the French Light infantry was in rout! Glorious!
Not wanting further engagement in such
an exposed position, I ordered my left flank to retreat and rejoin
with the main body of the army in the center of the field. My plan
was to set up a defensive position centered around the hills until
Hohenzollern's men could arrive and flank the French.
I watched as my left flank moved back
toward the town of Geratsdorf under gunfire from elite French troops
who had moved up against them. From out of nowhere, the French
cavalry charged with great elan toward my exposed men! They
desperately formed battalion mass and were able to stop the charge
for a time.
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| The French Cavalry attack! |
I hardly had time to think when a large
number of cavalry surged forward across the field and charged my line
of infantry who were not yet prepared to move onto the hills.
Traditional infantry squares and battalion mass were formed all
around until the field was in a chaotic mess of squares and horsemen.
I joined my staff and moved to the hills behind Gottmannshofen.
From here, we would plan our counterattack!
The brigade I was near was soon charged
by cavalry, which our men repelled. I could not tell what was
happening on the rest of the field. I desperately sent another
courier to Hohenzollern for rapid assistance. With our field
artillery holding Gottmannshofen in front of me, we would send canister
into the attacking cavalry! The cavalry line was stalled for a time while my artillery prepared. Some of
the horsemen were retreating, and we fired upon them to chase them
away further. My left flank was still in a desperate situation. I
received word that what was left of some of my shattered brigades had
moved into the Geratsdorf on the flank and were preparing to defend
against the incoming infantry from the left.
Just then, the squares in front of my position finally broke under the cavalry pressure combined with some horse artillery that had moved and was set to pummel my men in square. I issued a courier to my own cuirassier cavalry to charge the guns and remove their threat from my defending men.
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| The spent French cavalry retreat from my line. |
The battle turned at this point in our
favor. The French artillery was in a complete rout, most of their
cavalry had been repulsed and taken heavy losses while harassing my
squares, and I could see that Hohenzollern's men were now beginning
to arrive to strengthen my right flank. I heard great Austrian
cheers from the town, and soon received a note that Hohenzollern's
cavalry had charged the enemy and were in pursuit of the tired French
troops. I rallied my men to press the attack, and soon the entire
French army was fleeing the field. What had begun as a woefully
unprepared situation had become a decisive victory for the crown! So
much for Le Gran Armee!
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| Although the French hold Wertingen, my forces have quickly taken the field. |
Historical Result: French Victory
Today's Result: Austrian Victory
Austria 5 – France 2
Total Banner Count
Third Coalition Forces: 5
Napoleon's Grand Armee: 2
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