Hollabrunn, 15 November 1805

Notes from Rainer Egger, "Das Gefect bei HollabrUnn

12 noon, 13 November

Murat, Lannes and the Cavalry Reserve entered Vienna and seized the bridge over the Danube the same day, but had yet to discover Kutusov's location or bearing. Crossing the bridge at once, Oudinot's grenadier division, and two of cavalry, pressed forward in search of the Russians. Murat found in Vienna more than 2,000 cannon, 100,000 muskets, and enough ammunition to supply the French Army through 3 or 4 campaigns.

Evening, 13 November

Oudinot was in Korneuburg, Walther and Trelliard in Stockerau. That night, Murat himself slept in Vienna.

14 November

Between 11 and 12 in the morning the first French cavalry (Fauconnet) arrived in front of HollabrUnn, in Sierndorf, Unter- Hautzental and Hausleiten.

Murat with Soult's IV Corps, Lannes's V Corps (less Oudinot) and the remainder of the reserve cavalry marched for Stockerau, arriving there in the night.

So we have Murat with Soult, Lannes; and the cavalry in Stockerau during the night of 14-15 November, Oudinot in Gollersdorf, Walther's 2nd Dragoon Division and Trelliard (Fauconnet's) Lt. Cav scouting Hollabriinn.

After the loss of the Danube bridge, the Corps of Auersperg moved by the BrUnner Strasse toward Wolkersdorf and Gaunersdorf, where at 9 in the evening of the 14th, FML Liechtenstein assumed command of the Corps.

Murat detached a brigade of dragoons from the 3rd Dragoon Division (under Milhaud) to follow Auersperg. This brigade arrived in W61kersdorf at midday of the 14th.

The Russian March to Znaim

After sending his wounded on ahead from Kxems on the 13th, Kutuzov marched through Hddersdorf toward Hohenwarth and Nebenwegen and thence toward Sitzendorf an der Schmida and Ziersdorf to reach the Vienna-Znaim road. In the morning of the 14th, when word arrived of the capture of the Danube bridge, Kutuzov changed his direction toward jetzelsdorf (a post house in the Pulkau valley).

In Hollabrilrin, Kutusov found his detached VI Column and placed it under the command of General Czepelow (in place of Rosen). Continuing his march northwards, Kutuzov left a rear- guard under Prince Bagration to bar the road between Schongrabern and Hollabriinn.

Bagration's rearguard, comprising about 8,000 men, was on the road between Hollabrunn and Sch6ngrabern, in a position on the height of Suttenbrunn.

The Austrian General von Nostitz with the HessenHomburg Husars and the Peterwardeiner Grenzinfantry Nr. 9 was posted forward in Hollabrimn.

Murat's Advance

After provisioning his troops from the captured depot at Stockerau, Murat advanced on the morning of the 15th November. His advanced guard was already in contact with the Russians at G61lersdorf. The main body of the three corps under Murat advanced about 40,000 men strong, reaching G611ersdorf by midday on the 15th. At that time, Kutuzov was in jetzelsdorf.

On the afternoon of the 15th the opponents stood in the following positions: Bagration's advanced post under Nostitz (the Hessen-Homburg Regiment, the Peterwardeiner Grenzers, and three Russian Jaeger battalions) in Schongraberg; and Bagration himself with his corps on the road from Schongrabem through Grund and Guntersdorf. In Hollbrunn stood the two heavy cavalry divisions of Murat's cavalry reserve and the grenadier division under Oudinot. He felt that this force was not sufficient for an attack, and he summoned Soult and Lannes while scouting the enemy outposts.

Aware that the entire Russian Army was nearby, Murat negotiated an armistice with Bagration, for which he was later censured in a dispatch from Napoleon, who remained in Vienna. Murat then attacked Bagration's position at about 4 p.m. on the 16th. As a result of the 24-hour delay in this attack, Kutusov's army was able to withdraw through Znaim in complete safety.

Liechtenstein Joins the Russians

On the 15th the Austrian Avant Garde under FML Kienmayer, and the six brigades under FML Vinzenz; Graf Kolowrat, stood in Wilfersdorf. By the evening of the 16th both reached Muschau (Musoff) in Moravia. On the 17th, at Pohrlitz, the Austrian Corps met up with the Russian Army which had marched there from Znaim. A vedette detachment of Chevauxleger Regt. O'Reilly Nr. 3 and 100 Uhlans remained in Laa.

Set-up Notes for Scenario II 27 November 1805

Notes from: Kutuzov, M.H.: Sbornik Dokumentov, Tom II, Moscow, 1951, pp 196 -224. This is the great compendium of Kutuzov documentation compiled and edited by Beskrovnii between 1950 and 1956.

Olmutz: 26 November (Document #222, p.202) Kutuzov had his headquarters at Olmiltz when he issued an order setting out the order of march from Olmiltz to Prodlitz.

Neugasse: 27 November (Document #225)

Kutuzov issued an order regarding despatch of wagons to Ivanovitz. The order is dated Neugasse. There are also several GHQ orders datelined Olmiltz but signed either by the General- of-the-day, Inzov, or unsigned.

Gabrau: 27 November (document #227) Bagration sent a report dated from Gabrau.

near Raussnitz: 3 0 November (document #231) Bagration sent a report describing actions of the avantegarde on their advance. -Thanks to Nick Gorsky.

Biographical Notes on the Russian Generals

Notes from Louis Adolphe Thiers, "History of the Consulate and Empire of France under Napoleon." Phila: 1893, page 26

Mikhail Ilarionovich Kutusov

An elderly man, had lost the sight of one eye in consequence of a wound on the head, very corpulent, indolent, dissolute, greedy, but intelligent; as active in mind as he was heavy in body, lucky in war, a clever courtier, and capable of commanding in a situation that required prudence and good fortune. His lieutenants were men of moderate talents, excepting three, Prince Bagration and Generals Docturov and Miloradovich.

Prince Bagration

A Georgian of heroic courage, making amends by experience for the lack of early instruction, and always charged, whether at the advanced guard or at the rearguard, with the most difficult duty.

General Miloradovich

A Serbian, of brilliant valor, but absolutely destitute of military knowledge, dissolute in manners, uniting all the vices of civilization with those of barbarism.

General Docturov

A discreet, modest, firm and well-informed officer.

Ignacy Przybyszewski

Commander of 11th Infantry Regiment in the Polish Army. Took part in 1792 war against Russia. Awarded with Virtuti Militari (highest Polish military medal, created 1792). Entered Russian service in 1793. Captured at Austerlitz, he was convicted of a number of basic misjudgements after his return from captivity and played no further role in the wars. -Thanks to Jarek Andruszkiewicz.

Notes from Christopher Duffy, "Austerlitz 1805, Leo Cooper, London, 1977, pp. 30-31.

Marshal Buxhowden

Buxhowden was an Estonian German who had advanced himself by marrying an illegitimate daughter of the Tsanina Catherine. 'A man of extreme conceit and pride, but also ... of very little education,' he carried about with him a train of hunting dogs and female courtiers.

Tsar Alexander's inclinations drew him more to the company of aggressive and arrogant aides-de-camp like Winzingerode, Lieven, Volkonsky and Dolgoruky. Buxhowden complained, 'At the present time authority has declined to such an extent that everyone from ensign to general treats one another with the same familiarity.'