Phase I notes are nothing more than an excerpt of "Journal historique 3es Operations Militaires de la Division de Cavalerie Legere du 4eme Corps d'Armee 3'Allemagne commandee par le General Marulaz," (Journal of the Military operations of the 4th Army Corps Light Cavalry Division of the Army of Germany, commanded by General Marulaz, during the Campaign of 1809.
...The (light cavalry) Division, moving quickly on the road to Enns, at the crossroad of Enns and Wels came under the sustained fire of the enemy infantry hidden in the woods which forced the column to deploy; a part of which was formed in echelons. On the right and the left of the road, the German Regiments were placed in one line to support them. The enemy occupied the village of Klein-Munchen, on the left bank of the Traun, and also the inexpugnable position of Ebelsberg...While Claperede's Division, having the 19th Chasseurs elite company and one of the 14th of the same arm, strongly attacked KleinMuchen, suddently appeared an enemy column including infantry and cavalry making headway toward Ebelsberg. (Note from Editor. We are dealing here, apparently, with Hohensfeld's brigade, rearguard of the Vth Corps, coming from Wels. His column was on the heights of Oberhardt when it was spotted by Marulaz.)
General Marulaz sent the AdjudantCommandant Trinqualye to observe them, meanwhile on his side, he moved with the other part of the Division to support Claperede's Division. He entered the village of Klein-Mtlnchen in column in the midst of strong fire, he ordered to charge by platoons since he was unable to deploy because of obstacles... the General continued his movement forward to the bridge which he reached before the enemy's infantry had a chance to retreat, and consequently became prisonner. .. .A few French companies had already entered the city; General Marulaz, taking advantage of a slack in the enemy fire, sent the elite company of the 19th Chasseurs in Ebelsberg, where it remained during the action...."
MORE NOTES ON PHASE I.
According to Massena's report, when Marulaz appeared, the Austrians occupied the following position. Radetzky covered with Archduke Charles uhlans and 2 battalions of infantry the road to Wels, the uhlans were deployed in front of Klein-Munchen and the infantry securing their right on that village and their left was secured by the Traun. General Vincent, with Hofmeister's infantry Brigade and Vincent's chevaulegers, held the plaine between Klein-Munchen and Scharlinz woods; some tirailleurs supported by some infantry picquets were hidden in that wood and the village; the uhlans were on the right of the plaine, and the infanterie on horse(?) on the Linz road. Finally, one of Spleny's battalions was in Klein-Munchen.
PHASES II to IV.
As Marulaz appeared, General Vincent crossed over with his chevaulegers. During that time, Cohorn took Klein-Munchen. The arrival of Claparede with the rest of the Division forced Hofmeister's Brigade to fall back. Radetzky, fearing to be cut off from the bridge, withdrew his hussars, the uhlans and then the infantry retreating from the Wels road. The concentration of so many troops around the Ebelsberg bridge, increased the traffic jam created by the vehicles belonging to the three armies corps which, so far, had been unable to crossover since the morning. To give them the time to pass, General Vincent deployed the IR Spleny and Beniovsky to protect the bridge head. But Claparede's sudden and vigorous attack, in spite of a strong resistance, broke through Vincent's line, (Vincent's losses were about 1000 men). Retreating infantry, cavalry, vehicles of all sorts obstructed the long narrow bridge. Seeing that great disorder, Claparede hoping to cut off part of the cavalry, threw his 1st brigade (Cohorn) at the entrance of the bridge. However, Uhlans, hussars with some light infantry on horse back managed to swimm over the other side of the Traun.
The Ebelsberg bridge was some 590 yards long, and crossed over several islands. Blinded by his impetiosity, Cohorn, with his Corsican Tiraileurs, pushed forward and threw some of the disorganized enemies in the Traun and in the islands. It appears that some Austrians soldiers resisted in these islands and, by-passed, later on, entrapped there, became prisoners.
Battle of Ebelsberg: 3 May 1809 War Against Austria
Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 78
Back to EEL List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1993 by Emperor's Headquarters
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com