Württemberg Light Troops

Their tactical deployment in the 1809 campaign against Austria

David Wright

Jäger and Light Infantry1

The light troops were élite infantry that usually formed the vanguard of the Württemberg forces and often formed a de facto Light
Division when combined with a brigade of light cavalry and two horse artillery batteries.

The first light unit in the Württemberg army was a Jäger company, which was formed on 6th October 1799 and attached to
Grenadier-Bataillon von Zobel.

In January 1800, the Jäger Company became an independent company. On 11th March 1800, a second company was raised and
the unit was now called the Fußjägerkorps. A third company was raised on 14th May 1800 and a fourth on 9th May 1801, to form
the Fußjägerbataillon.

The battalion was now organised as follows.

1 Commandeur (Commander), 1 Adjutant, 1 Auditor und Regimentsquartiermeister (legal Official and regimental quartermaster),
1 Bataillonsarzt (battalion physician), 1 Stabshornist (bugle-major), 8 Hornisten (buglers), 1 Profoß (provost), 1 Büchsenmacher
(gunsmith), 4 Hauptleute (captains), 8 Lieutenante (lieutenants), 4 Oberjäger (senior NCOs), 40 Premierjäger (junior NCOs), 4
Zimmerleute (pioneers) and 688 Jäger (including Krankenführer (medical orderlies) and Offiziersbedienten (officers’ servants)).

On 23rd August, a fifth company was raised. On 12th September 1805, two companies of the Fußjägerbataillon and the 5th
Company of the Leibgrenadierbataillon were used to form the 2. Fußjägerbataillon. The 1. and 2. Fußjägerbataillone now
consisted of 3 companies each, but the 1. Fußjägerbataillon received a fourth company on 6th November 1805 and the 2.
Fußjägerbataillon on 9th November 1805.

The Fußjäger fought in pairs, one firing, while the other covered him. The front rank was armed with a Büchse (rifle whose stock
came up to half the barrel length) and a Hirschfänger (sword bayonet), which could be fixed on the rifle. The second rank was
armed with a rifled carbine (gezogene Karabiner) with fixed bayonet and a sabre like the line infantry. In 1812, both ranks had the
Büchse, which was made in Suhl, Thuringia. NCOs had a Stutzen (rifle whose stock was the full barrel length) of Austrian
manufacture and a Hirschfänger that could not be fixed, due to the stock.

Two light infantry battalions were formed on 12th September 1805, the 1. leichtes Infanterie-Bataillon von Neubronn from the 5th
Companies of the infantry battalions Prinz Paul, Herzog Wilhelm and Kurprinz and the 2. leichtes Infanterie-Bataillon von
Scheler from the 5th Companies of battalions von Lilienberg, von Romig and von Seckendorf.

According to von Stadlinger, a leichte Infanterie-Bataillon had the same organization and rank names as a Fußjägerbataillon. It
does seem unlikely, however, that the ranks Oberjäger, Premierjäger and Jäger would be used; Feldwebel, Corporal and Gemeine
or Soldat seem much more likely.

Stadlinger’s illustrations show the light infantry to be armed initially with a carbine or short musket, reaching from the ground to
halfway up the chest (as opposed to the line infantry musket, which reached from the ground to the shoulder). The short musket
had a longer bayonet, so that its overall length including the bayonet was the same as the line infantry musket.

Light Cavalry2

In September 1798, Württemberg had a single cavalry regiment of six companies: two companies of Garde du Corps, one
company of Leibjäger and three companies of Chevaulegers, with a total strength of 313 men. In 1801, the Garde troops were
separated, leaving a single line regiment of Chevaulegers, called the Reiter Regiment. In 1802, this was increased to five
squadrons and retitled the Chevaulegers-Regiment. In October 1805, the Leib-Schwadron was removed and used to form the
Leib-Chevaulegers-Regiment.

In December 1805, Jäger-Regiment-zu-Pferd Prinz Paul was formed with three squadrons, increased to four in February 1807. In
1806, Jäger-Regiment-zu-Pferd König was formed.

In July 1809, a fifth regiment was formed from the depot companies of the other four regiments and named Dragoner-Regiment
Kronprinz.

1
Stadlinger, Leo Jgnaz von: Geschichte des Württembergischen Kriegswesen von der frühesten bis zur neuesten Zeit, Stuttgart, Guttenberg, 1856, pp 482, 642-3,
669-670.
2
Stadlinger, op. cit, pp 627-630. Starklof, Richard: Geschichte des Königlich Württembergischen Zweiten Reiter-Regiments, Darmstadt, Eduard Zernin, 1862, pp
91-92. Nübling, Hermann: Geschichte des Grenadier-Regiments König Karl (5. Württembergischen) Nr. 123, Berlin, Eisenschmidt, 1911, pp 81-82.
The 1st squadron of each regiment was named the Leib Escadron (Leib means body, in the sense of the King’s person), the 2nd
was the Commandeur Escadron (commander’s squadron) and the other two were named after their commander. With internal
promotion, squadrons could be commanded by a Rittmeister or Major; the first two squadrons by Stabs-Rittmeister (staff, or
junior captains).

In 1809, the theoretical organisation of a Jäger-Regiment-zu-Pferd was: 1 Commandeur (commander), 1 Major (major), 1
Adjutant (commander’s aide), 1 Regiments Quartiermeister (regimental quartermaster), 1 Auditor (legal official), 1 Oberarzt
(senior physician), 1 Kurschmidt (horse doctor), 1 Stabshornist (staff trumpeter), 1 Profoß (provost), 1 Fahnensattler (saddler), 1
Büchsenmacher (gunsmith), 2 Escadronchefs (squadron leaders), 2 Stabsrittmeister (staff captains), 4 Premierlieutenante (first
lieutenants), 8 Secondlieutenante (second lieutenants), 4 Wachtmeister (senior NCOs), 4 Quartiermeister (quartermasters), 4
Chirurgen (surgeons), 8 Hornisten (buglers), 40 Unteroffiziere (junior NCOs), 4 Fahnenschmiede (farriers), 4 Krankenführer
(medical orderlies), 444 Jäger (troopers), 3 Trainsoldaten (drivers), 2 Reserve-Trainsoldaten (reserve drivers), 30 obligate
Offiziersdiener (officers’ servants), a total of 574 men. There was also a 4-horse Stabswagen (staff wagon) and a 3-horse
Munitionswagen (munitions wagon).

The Chevaulegers regiments were armed with a rifled carbine (gezogene Karabiner; it had a fixing for a bayonet), two pistols and
a long, slightly curved sabre with an iron basket hilt. No mention is made of the Jäger-Regiments-zu-Pferd, but presumably they
were armed identically. The Dragoner carried a musket. There was no difference in the tactical usage of the three types of
regiment.

Horse Artillery3

In 1799, the Württemberg artillery was very small, consisting of 5 officers and 99 NCOs and men. A single 3pdr battery took part
in the campaign that year.

On 20th August 1801, a reitende Batterie (horse artillery battery) was formed, with two 3pdr and two 6pdr cannon

On 20th September 1807, a second reitende-Batterie was formed from the Depot-Compagnie and attached to the Maison du Roi.
This became the Reitende Gardebatterie on 25th May 1814.

In 1809, the artillery had two reitende Batterien. Each battery had six guns (four 6pdr, two 7pdr howitzers). Each gun had its own
ammunition wagon, each battery a workshop wagon (Handwerkswagen). The guns had a team of six horses.
The organisation was: 1 Hauptmann, 1 Oberlieutenant, 1 Unterlieutenant, 1 Sergeant, 1 Quartiermeister, 1 Unterarzt, 1
Krankenführer (medical orderly), 2 Wagenmeister, 2 Trompeter, 7 Corporale, 1 Sattler (saddler), 1 Wagner (wagonmaster), 1
Schmied (smith), 12 Oberkanoniere (senior artillerymen), 72 Kanoniere, 4 Offiziersdiener (officers’ servants), 45 Trainsoldaten
(drivers - 3 per gun, 3 per munitions wagon, and 2 for the workshop wagon - the name changed from Knecht on 9th March 1809),
154 men.

State of the light troops on 15th April 18094

Commander

Wagons
Horses
Unit

Guns
Men

3. Infanterie-Brigade Generalmajor August v. Hügel

Fußjäger-Bataillon König Major Ludwig v. Stockmayer 704 7 2
Fußjäger-Bataillon von Neuffer Oberst Karl v. Neuffer 695 7 2
1. leichte Infanterie-Bataillon von Wolff Oberst Adolf v. Wolff 674 7 2
2. leichte Infanterie-Bataillon von Brüsselle Oberst Felix v. Brüsselle 689 7 2
1. Kavallerie-Brigade Generalmajor Friedrich v. Röder
Chevaulegers-Regiment Herzog Heinrich Oberst Karl v. Jett 545 564 2
Leib-Chevaulegers-Regiment Oberst Ludwig v. Walsleben 565 564 2
2. Kavallerie-Brigade Generalmajor Christian v. Stettner
Jäger-Regiment-zu-Pferd Herzog Louis Oberst Eberhard v. Waldburg-Würzach 549 564 2
Jäger-Regiment-zu-Pferd König Oberst Ludwig v. Breuning 555 564 2
Reitende-Artillerie Oberstlieutenant Karl v. Kerner
Reitende Batterie Maison du Roi Hauptmann Friedrich v. Brand 115 124 4 6pdr, 2 7pdr how 7
2. Reitende-Batterie Hauptmann Ferdinand v. Bartruff 114 123 4 6pdr, 2 7pdr how 7

3
Stadlinger, op cit., pp 620-621; Gessler, Karl, Tognarelli, Ulysses & Strobel, Theodor: Geschichte des 2. Württembergischen Feldartillerie-Regiments
Prinzregent Luitpold von Bayern, Stuttgart, Selbs-Verlag, 1892, pp. 99-100.
4
Saski, Charles Gaspard Louis: Campagne de 1809 en Allemagne et en Autriche, Paris, Berger-Levrault, 1899-1902, Tom 2, between pp 378-379.
Württemberg to Abensberg, 11th - 20th April

The troops left Württemberg on 11th April and moved to the Donauwörth area. Napoleon moved from Donauwörth to Ingolstadt
(54 km) by coach, escorted by Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis. 5 The journey was so fast and without rests that 3 horses
died and 66 were too exhausted to continue. The 66 horses and their riders had to be left at Ingolstadt under Premierlieutenant von
Schütz, later joined by Secondlieutenant von Mengen with 30 men, who had been sent on patrol on the 19th. Von Schütz’s
command, now two officers, six NCOs, one trumpeter and 89 Jäger, did not rejoin the regiment until the 26th April, missing the
battles of Abensberg and Eggmühl.6

The 1. Reitende-Batterie Maison du Roi, escorted by the Leib-Chevaulegers, was pushed forward from Abensberg to the right of
the road to Regensburg and ordered by Maréchal de l’Empire Jean-Baptiste Bessières to open fire on Austrian troops, supported by a battery,
which had been pushed out into the open by Bavarian skirmishers. The 2. Reitende-Batterie was detached to the right of Neustadt to bombard an enemy
battery and afterwards to support the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König and Bavarian infantry.7

The Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis, together with a half Reitende-Batterie, was acting as escort for Napoleon and had to
follow his movements constantly, sometimes having to halt for a long time on the road while he inspected positions, took
messages or greeted regiments, sometimes setting off at a sharp pace to keep up with the hurrying Commander-in-Chief. The day
was broken by a serious storm, so that the Jäger were wet through when they came to Vohburg, where the Emperor took his night
quarters. The regiment received orders to remain there also and to “billet in a military fashion”. The whole town was, however,
full of French, so that billets were difficult to find, the weather was still atrocious and a bivouac on the Market Place was not
inviting. On informing that they were the Emperor’s escort, many stables and sheds were vacated and a place was found for the
Louisjägers. There was also a lack of forage and the horses, in movement for 12 hours, had not been fed since early morning.
Long rows of forage wagons were in the area, each guarded by a French Cuirassier. The Jäger worked on these; while one, who
could speak broken French, set up a conversation with the Cuirassier and tried to distract his attention, the others crept under the
wagon, cut the oat sacks and let the contents run into a few food bags. The trick succeeded and the horses enjoyed it very much. 8

Battle of Abensberg, 20th April

The area between Abensberg and Siegenburg was held by the Austrian
The Austrian 5. Armeekorps, under Feldmarschalllieutenant Erzherzog
Ludwig, together with the brigade of Generalmajor Thierry from the 3.
Armeekorps, were ranged on the hills to the east of the Abens river,
between the towns of Abensberg and Siegenburg.9

Napoleon’s plan was to attack these positions in front and flank. The
Bavarian 1. Division, under Generallieutenant Kronprinz Ludwig,
would attack east from Abensberg, with the 3. Division, under
Generallieutenant Graf von Deroy, following behind. The 2. Division,
under Generallieutenant von Wrede would attack east from Biburg,
supported by the Württembergers. When the attack stalled, the light
troops were sent in.

Generalmajor von Hügel’s 3. (leichte) Infanterie-Brigade was split into

two, with the Fußjäger-Bataillon König and the 1. leichte Infanterie-
Bataillon von Wolff by Abensberg with von Hügel and the Fußjäger-
Bataillon von Neuffer and the 2. leichte Infanterie-Bataillon von
Brüsselle were opposite Siegenburg, with the Reitende-Batterie Maison
Map 1. Battle of Abensberg du Roi and the Leib-Escadron of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog
Louis, under the command of Oberst von Neuffer. The commander of

5
This is also confirmed in Neubronner, Oberleutnant von. Geschichte des Dragoner-Regiments König (2 Württembergisches) Nr 26, Stuttgart, Regimental, no
date, p. 13. However, in k. u. k. Kriegsarchiv. Kriege unter der Regierung des Kaisers Franz. Krieg 1809. 4 Bd., Band I Regensburg, Wien, Seidler & Sohn, 1907-
10, p 411, states that Napoleon was escorted by Herzog Louis from Donauwörth to Neuburg and by the Leib-Chevaulergers from Neuburg to Ingolstadt. Gessler,
Tognarelli & Strobel, agree with Krieg, while Schmahl Julian & Speman, Gottfried. Geschichte des 2. Württembergischen Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 29
Prinzregent von Bayern, Ludwigsburg, Selbstverlag, 1901, p. 52, state that Napoleon was escorted by both regiments, but give no details.
6
Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments., p. 98.
7
From Oberst von Schnadows battle report, quoted in Gessler, Tognarelli & Strobel, p. 102.
8
Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments., pp. 99-100.
9
Krieg 1809, Band I: Regensburg pp. 428-432.
the Württemberg Corps, Général de Division Vandamme had under command Generalmajor von Hügel’s brigade, the rest of
Herzog Louis, Chevaulegers-Regiment Herzog Heinrich, the Leib-Chevaulegers-Regiment and the 2. Reitende-Batterie. The rest
of the Württemberg troops would remain in reserve, the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König having replaced Herzog Louis as
Napoleon’s escort (Map 1).10

Generalmajor von Hügel led his force up the Sallingbergerbach and may have reached Sallingberg itself with at least his
skirmishers. He was soon called back and sent down the Abens to support von Wrede’s troops around Perka. Bataillon von Wolff,
led by von Hügel himself, as Oberst Adolf von Wolff had been wounded at the beginning of the battle, attacked the centre of
Radetzky’s line, while Bataillon König assaulted the right flank.

Radetzky, given the task of protecting the retreat of Reuß-Greitz, retreated towards Langhaid and Kipfelsberg, putting up a
spirited rearguard action at Langhaid, which was only broken when Major von Stockmayer, , led two companies of König around
the Austrian left flank through defiles that ran down to the plains. Oberjäger Seitz, leading a strengthened Zug, expelled a
superior enemy force from a small wood by Beckerhof, while defending his force against cavalry threatening his right flank. At
Kipfelsberg, the battalions of von Neuffer and von Brüsselle joined in the action, hastening Radetzky’s retreat.

As darkness approached, von Stockmayer continued pressing the Austrians. Wounded in the ankle and with an injured thigh from
where his horse had fallen crossing the Morgenrottal, he had himself bound to the saddle. Finally, the Württembergers came upon
two battalions of Grenadiere of the 2. Reservekorps. Under fire, von Stockmayer’s horse was shot and the Major was only saved
from capture by the actions of his servant, who brought up his spare mount, untied him and helped him onto the replacement. 11
During this action, the Brigade-Adjutant, Premierlieutenant vom Mengershausen was killed.

The reitende-Artillerie distinguised itself. They received Vandamme’s admiration for the calmness of their crews, even under
infantry fire and the Generaladjutant, Generalmajor von Theobald, reported to König Friedrich that: “in the battle of Abensberg,
they had operated with great composure under the small-arms fire of the enemy. The 2. Reitende-Batterie supported the advance
on each side of Perka, led by Oberst von Kerner and near Siegenburg rescued a Bavarian battalion that was suddenly charged by
enemy cavalry. They were brought forward at the gallop and broke up the attack with well-delivered fire. Oberst von Schnadows
led up the Reitende-Batterie Maison du Roi at a strong pace against an enemy 12-pdr battery”. 12

Landshut, 21st April

On his own initiative, Vandamme had the Württemberg troops awake and moving by 1 am, before he had received any orders.
The Württemberg cavalry, together with two Bavarian regiments and a French Cuirassier Division led the pursuit. 13

At Landshut, the Zwischenbrück Insel was stormed by Fußjäger-Bataillon von Neuffer and the 2. leichte Infanterie-Bataillon von
Brüsselle, together with the Bavarian 7. Infanterie-Regiment Löwenstein and the French 13ème Legère and 17ème Ligne. The
Austrians set fire to the Spitalbrücke, but, due to the rain, the wet timbers did not burn sufficiently and the grenadiers of the 3. Bataillon 17ème Ligne
stormed the bridge under the leadership of Général de Division Mouton. These were followed by the companies of von Starkloff from von Neuffer and
von Müller from von Brüsselle, as well as a squadron of the Bavarian 3. Chevaulegers, both battalions of the Löwenstein regiment, the 1 Bataillon Prinz
Karl and two battalions of the 13ème Legère.14

Battle of Eggmühl, 22nd April

When Napoleon realised that the bulk of the Austrians was facing
Maréchal Davout at Eggmühl, Maréchal Lannes was given a
Provisional Corps. The vanguard, under Vandamme, consisted of von
Hügel’s Light Brigade, Generallieutenant von Wöllwarth-Lauterburg’s
cavalry division (except the Leib-Chevaulegers, which remained at
Essenbach with the task of patrolling the Isar) and the two reitende-
Batterien.

Hügel’s Brigade had only just got into their bivouacs at Landshut,
when they were ordered to act as support to Saint Sulpice’s Cuirassiers
and drive away weak enemy infantry from the Essenbach area. When
Napoleon realized the true position of the Austrian army, these orders
were changed and they were sent as the advance troops of the Lanshut
column towards Eggmühl.

10
Krieg 1809, Band I: Regensburg, p. 455, states that Herzog Louis continued as Napoleon’s escort, but Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments., p. 98 says that Herzog
Louis had been replaced by König.
11
Kraft, Heinz, Die Württemberger in den Napoleonischen Kriegen, Stuttgart, Kohlhammer, 1952, pp. 149-150; Nübling, p. 90-91; Muff, Karl & Wencher,
Hauptmann. Geschichte des Grenadier-Regiments König Karl (5 Württembergisches) Nr 123, Stuttgart, Metzler, 1889, pp. 18-19.
12 Map 2.p. Capture
Schmal & Speman, 53; Strach of
vonBuchhausen
Weißenbach, Geschichte des Königlich Württembergischen Artillerie, Stuttgart, Kohlhammer 1882
pp. 191-192; Gessler, Tognarelli & Strobel, p. 103.
13
Nübling, p. 91.
14
Nübling, p. 92; Krieg 1809, Band I: Regensburg, p. 482.
Under the leadership of Général de Brigade Clément de la Ronciere, the leichte Brigade, with the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog
Louis, reached the village of Ergoldsbach at 4 am. In the village, they found an outpost of 40 Erzherzog Ferdinand Husaren with
an officer, blissfully sleeping, having neglected to post sentries, Fußjäger-Bataillon König crept up on the unsuspecting Husaren
and succeeded in capturing them, with a two-horse munition wagon.15 The exhausted troops were then able to rest for three hours
until the rest of the advance caught up and the advance continued.

At 2 pm, the Württembergers came upon the outposts of the main Austrian forces in the village of Buchhausen, 31/2 km south of
Eggmühl. A small detachment of the Peterwardein Grenz was in the village itself, while the remainder of the two-battalion
regiment, depleted after the travails of the previous two days, was on the hill between Lindach and the Eggmühl road. They were
supported by four squadrons of the Husaren-Regiment Erzherzog Ferdinand Nr. 3 and a Kavalleriegeschütz-Batterie. The
commander was Feldmarschalllieutenant Vukassovich.

Fußjäger-Bataillon König, followed by Fußjäger-Bataillon von Neuffer, swept into the village, while the two leichte Infanterie-
Bataillonen cleared the hills on either side. The outnumbered Grenzer retreated to the main body.

The cavalry regiments Herzog Heinrich, König and Herzog Louis and the two reitende Batterien moved through the villages onto
the hill to the west. Here an artillery duel occurred, until Vukassovich pulled his troops back to the main body to the north of
Eggmühl. Two of the battery positions were assigned by Napoleon himself and the artillery were at one time in the skirmish
lines.16

The cavalry received casualties from the Austrian artillery. Generallieutenant von Wöllwarth reported: “The horse artillery formed two batteries, behind
which sat the cavalry at some one hundred paces, in echelon with wide intervals. Our batteries gave rise to a very strong enemy fire, which lasted for half
an hour in the first position; the cavalry, in one and the same position, were exposed for just as long to this very heavy fire, which here and there carried
off a man or horse.17 All the same, the order and calm of the men was never in the least interrupted, but this fire was rather received with a coolness
which exceeded all my expectations.”18

At about 2 pm, the advance continued to the hills overlooking the valley of the Große Laaber and the village of Eggmühl itself.

The village was garrisoned by the Peterwardein Grenz, with the I.

Bataillon guarding the bridge over the Große Laaber and the II
Bataillon in the village and its Schloß, which was surrounded by a wall
and ditch. The Kavalleriegeschütz-Batterie had moved to the hamlet of
Kratzenhofen, 400 metres to the north of Eggmühl (Map 3).

The Große Laaber was not particularly wide, but was impassable to
artillery and difficult for cavalry and infantry. The adjoining fields
were water-meadows and very wet from the rains of the past few days.
The stone Laaber Bridge was thus crucial to the further advance of the
allied army.

Major von Stockmayer’s Fußjäger-Bataillon König, with Hauptmann

von Schneidemantel’s company from Fußjäger-Bataillon von Neuffer
were given the order to take the bridge. Twice, under the fire of the
Peterwardein Grenz and the Kavalleriegeschütz-Batterie at
Kratzenhofen, they were repulsed, but the two Württemberg reitende
Batterien, escorted by the Baden Leichte Dragoner, arrived at the
Map 3. Capture of Eggmühl gallop and, even moving into the skirmish line,19 provided the support
that enabled the Fußjäger to storm the bridge and sweep into the
village. In doing so, the adjutant of von Neuffer, Premierlieutenant von Reinhardt was decapitated by a cannon ball. Nübling 20
describes the next action as follows: “Major von Stockmayer had Stabshornist Kaiser, who stood next to him, blow the Jäger
storm call and over ditch and wall they went. Oberjäger Seiz, Premier Schäfer and Jäger Mahn broke in the door to the Schloß and
pressed in as the first. Up the stairs, in the corridors and rooms it became hand-to-hand with the bravely defending Grenzer, during
which Jäger Seitter snatched the Grenz battalion standard from the standard bearer. The rest of the Grenzer, 300 men strong,
surrendered, as they saw no other way out.” Major von Stockmayer sent Seitter to present the standard to Napoleon, who awarded
him the Légion d’Honneur and 20 gold Napoleons. The capture of Eggmühl was aided by the 3. Bataillon 12ème Ligne, which
approached the Schloß from the east.
15
Krieg 1809, Band I: Regensburg, p.549; Nübling, pp. 93-94; Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments, pp.103-104.
16
Gessler, Tognarelli & Strobel, p. 104
17
Herzog Louis lost two men dead (Jäger Hamm and Schips of the Leibescadron) and six wounded, as well as ten dead and two wounded horses. Starklof,
zweiten Reiterregiments, p. 106.
18
Griesinger, Theodor. Geschichte des Ulanen-Regiments König Karl (1 Württembergisches) Nr 19, Stuttgart, Deutsche Verlag-Anstalt, 1883, p. 68.
19
Gessler, Tognarelli & Strobel, p. 104.
20
Nübling, p. 96.
The exhausted Jäger of von Hügel’s Brigade, having shot away all their ammunition, collapsed in the village for a well-earned
rest. Their performance was extraordinary:21 after having fought a serious battle on the 20th April, they marched 80 km in 36
hours, of which they were moving for 26 hours, with only12 hours rest, in poor weather, on bad roads, being involved in
skirmishes at Landshut, Ergoldsbach and Buchhausen, then stormed a bridge and village defended by superior numbers in the face
of artillery fire.

The Königjäger lost seven men dead, an officer and 24 men wounded and six men missing; von Neuffer lost an officer dead, 8
men wounded and four men missing.

Chevaulegers-Regiment Herzog Heinrich was ordered by Napoleon to go to Maréchal Davout. It successfully attacked enemy
cavalry and took 60 infantry prisoner. In the evening, together with a French Hussar squadron, it attacked Austrian Kürassiere,
taking more prisoners and cutting down around 40. Some Chevaulegers were apparently killed and wounded, although this does
not appear on the casualty report. Oberstlieutenant von Brockfeld was captured after his horse was wounded. 22

Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König, and two squadrons of Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis, together with two Bavarian
regiments, ten regiments of French heavy cavalry and a French chasseur regiment took part in the cavalry attack on the Bettelberg,
charging three times until the Austrian defence was broken.23 In the evening, the two regiments took part in the engagement at Alt-
Eglofsheim with the same allies.

At 9pm, Generallieutenant von Wöllwarth received the order from the Emperor to advance with the six squadrons at his disposal
(Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König and two squadrons of Herzog Louis, the Commandeur-Escadron and Escadron Raßler) towards
the Regensburg-Straubing road to capture the Austrian baggage retiring in this direction.

They set off in the evening and for the second night in succession were to have no rest. The enemy baggage, however, had too
great a lead and, despite the hard ride, could not be caught. The Württembergers did collide with a squadron of the Dragoner-
Regiment Riesch Nr. 6, which had been sent towards Straubing to destroy the Danube bridge in case of emergency and with
enemy infantry, both in the region of Geisling and Pfatter, three to four hours from Alteglofsheim, close to the Danube.

News of the enemy cavalry was received on route and Secondlieutenant von Adelsheim, who led the point, was told that in the
indicated direction, he would have to pass two villages (Moosham and St Gilgen) and when he came in the vicinity of the third
(Geisling), he should approach this with great care. If he could not find the way back, he was to burn St Gilgen as a signal.

Von Adelsheim took the right direction and, after leaving the first two villages behind him, arrived before Geisling at 11am. There
were neither enemy vedettes nor other obstacles and many lights shone out from the village. Unteroffizier Heinemann of Raßler’s
squadron got down and crept up to the nearest house, from out of which a light shone, established that enemy Dragoner were
inside and returned to the squadron with this information. The village was surrounded as quietly as possible and then, on a given
signal, fallen on from three sides with terrible cries.

The Austrian Dragoner, from the regiment Riesch, who had quartered themselves carelessly and were scattered around the houses,
were completely surprised and, after an attempt at resistance, were all captured, together with horses. Hornist Horlacher was one
of the first on the village street and tore through, constantly blaring out fanfares. The regiment captured 27 horses, which were
fairly distributed amongst the squadrons according to their needs: Leib-Escadron six, Commandeur-Escadron six, Escadron-
Münchingen eight and Escadron-Raßler seven. Every officer who needed one was provided with horses before the distribution.

At the same time, in Pfatter, half an hour from Geisling, 160 infantry were captured, mainly by Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König. 24

In the evening, the Leib-Chevaulegers, who had bivouacked at Altdorf on the left bank of the Isar, were sent eastward along the
Isar with two squadrons of Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König to follow the broken Austrian units.25

Casualties for the Württembergers during the battles of the 22nd amounted to 15 dead, 99 wounded and two prisoners.26

Eggmühl to the Inn, 23rd to 30th April

21
Bonnal, Guillaume. L' Esprit de la Guerre Moderne. La Manouvre de Landshut, Paris, Chapelot 1905, p. 354.
22
Reports of Generallieutenant August von Wöllwarth-Lauterburg and Generalmajor Friedrich von Röder in Griesinger, pp. 68-69.
23
Krieg 1809, Band I: Regensburg, pp. 557-559; Stutterheim, Karl von. La Guerre de l’An 1809 Entre L’Autriche et La France, Tom 1, Vienna, Strauss, 1811.,
pp. 250-256. Bismark, Gen. Graf Friedrich Wilhelm von, Ideen-Taktik der Reuterei, Karlsruhe, Müller, 1829, pp207-208
24
Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments, p. 107-109.
25
Spieß, Karl & Ritter, Hans. Geschichte des Dragoner-Regiments Königin Olga (1. Württ.) Nr. 25, Ludwigsburg, Selbst-Verlag, 1913 p. 39; Starklof, Richard,
Geschichte des Württembergishen vierten Reiterregiments Königin Olga, Stuttgart, Aue, 1867, p. 38. This seems to conflict with the account in Starklof, zweiten
Reiterregiments given above, where all four squadrons of König were together. Perhaps there is confusion with the two other squadrons of Herzog Louis (Leib and
Münchingen), which were separated earlier?
26
Krieg 1809, Band I: Regensburg, Anhang XXX p. 707.
On the 23rd and 24th, the Württembergers finally had some rest. The Leib-Chevaulegers came under fire for a short time during the
capture of Regensburg on the 23rd and then were given the honour of carrying ten captured Austrian standards into the city.

To the anger of the Württemberg commander, Generallieutenant von Neubronn, the Chevaulegers-Regiment Herzog Heinrich
remained in the Emperor’s Headquarters, the Leib-Chevaulegers were attached to the IV Corps d’Armée of Maréchal Masséna
and Vandamme removed von Hügel’s Brigade from the Infanterie Division, placing it under his direct orders. 27

On the 27th, the advance towards the Inn resumed. On the 29th, the two Jäger-Regimente-zu-Pferd Herzog Louis and König were
sent via Marltl to Simbach, across the Inn from Braunau. The leader of the vanguard, Lieutenant Hayd, reached Simbach at
midnight with 30 men. At daybreak, Hayd, with five Jäger, left their horses behind and crossed the Inn on a small boat.
Ascertaining that the town of Braunau was free of the enemy, he called across his remaining Jäger and, after forcing the
Magistrate to hand over the keys, locked the town gates.

Leaving 18 Jäger to occupy the gates and secure his retreat, Hayd, who had found out that between 3-400 Austrians were to be
found south of the town, marched with 12 Jäger on foot in the direction of Ranshofen. Not far from Ranshofen, they took an
Austrian hospital by surprise and took three officers and 314 men prisoner.28 As a reward, Friedrich raised Hayn to the
Freiherrnstand (hereditary nobility) as Hayd von Haydenschwert.

The Encounter at Riedau, 1st May

Having crossed the Inn at Passau, Maréchal Masséna, with the IV Corps d’Armée, was directed through Schärding to pursue
Hiller towards Wels on the River Traun. The vanguard of his force consisted of the Württemberg Leibchevaulegers under
Generalmajor von Stettner,29 part of the Württemberg Generalmajor Röder’s brigade of Général de Brigade Marulaz’s cavalry
division and the 4ème Ligne, from Général de Division Carra Saint Cyr’s division. The vanguard was commanded by Adjutant-
Commandant Trenqualye.

On the 30th April, Masséna received a report from Oberstlieutenant Heimrodt of the Baden Leichte Dragoner, that there was a
concentration of Austrian troops around Riedau. That evening, Masséna sent his vanguard to Siegharting to reinforce the Baden
cavalry.

Trenqualye set off at daybreak on the 1st May and 2 km from Riedau, the leading squadron of the Leibchevaulegers, the
Leibeskadron, under Stabsrittmeister von Bismark, came upon some Austrian Hussar vedettes. These were charged by the leading
troop, under Premierlieutenant von Blücher and driven back over the Prambach through Riedau. The Chevaulegers were forced to
halt by the woods at Harbach, which were occupied by two companies of Austrian infantry.30 The Austrians were part of the
rearguard, under Feldmarschalllieutenant Schustekh, and consisted of the 3. Bataillon Infanterie-Regiment Jordis Nr. 59 and two
squadrons of the Kienmayer Husaren Nr. 8.31 The rest of the rearguard was at Neumarkt, about 7 km south-east of Riedau.

Trenqualye sent the voltigeur companies32 of the 4ème Ligne and Stabsrittmeister von Bismark’s squadron against the occupied
wood margins, while the Baden Leichte Dragoner were sent to out flank the woods, the 1st and 2nd Squadrons to the south and
the 3rd and 4th Squadrons to the north. The squadrons of Palm and von Normann formed the reserve, while Einsiedel’s squadron
appears to have remained on the Prambach. The Austrian infantry evacuated the wood after a long firefight, followed by von
Bismark’s squadron and the French voltigeur companies, who halted at the far edge of the wood. Von Bismark’s squadron formed
up outside the wood, under the fire of the Austrian skirmishers.

The squadron strength was three officers (Stabsrittmeister von Bismark, Premierlieutenant von Blücher, Premierlieutenant von
Rüdt), 13 NCOs, two trumpeters and 110 Chevaulegers. Facing them were approximately 200 skirmishers, supported by the
battalion of Jordis of 400-500 men and the two squadrons of Husaren, with some 300 horses.33 The Baden Dragoner squadrons
were about 80 men strong.34

Von Bismark awaited the order to charge from Trenqualye, who appeared restless and unsure. On his own initiative, von Bismark
gave the order “Marsch, marsch” and his squadron went at the skirmishers at a full run. The Austrians managed to form Klumpen
and, at 30 paces, calmly gave the Württembergers a volley, which killed Premierlieutenant von Rüdt, one man and 13 horses and
wounded von Blücher and eight men. Von Bismark’s horse went down a few paces from the enemy, trapping him. He managed to
work himself free and, before the skirmishers had time to get to him, his squadron charged again and the Austrians were either cut
down or captured by the French voltigeurs. The attack was aided by the southern outflanking arm of the Baden cavalry, under

27
Du Casse, Pierre Emmanuel Albert Baron. Le général Vandamme et sa correspondence, Paris, Didier, 1870, p. 276.
28
Kraft, p. 167.
29
Krieg 1809 Band III: Neumarkt – Ebelsberg – Wien, p. 266.
30
Zech, Carl von & Porbeck, Friedrich von. Geschichte der badischen Truppen 1809 im Feldzug gegen Österreich, Heidelberg, Winter,1909, p. 64.
31
Krieg 1809 Band III: Neumarkt – Ebelsberg – Wien, p. 267.
32
Starklof, vierten Reiterregiments, p. 39, says that there were two Voltigeur companies; Krieg 1809, p. 267, says three companies.
33
Starklof, vierten Reiterregiments, p. 40.
34
Zech & Porbeck, p. 64.
Oberstlieutenant Heimrodt, who had reached the road by Erlach. As the Württembergers attacked the skirmishers in front, the
Badeners went for the rear.35

As von Bismark mounted von Rüdt’s horse, he saw the two Husaren squadrons advancing on him. Reforming his squadron, he led
them against the Austrian cavalry.36 At this moment, the squadrons of Normann and Palm arrived and hit the right flank of the
Husaren, causing them to retreat. Attempting to reform, the Husaren were routed by the northern outflanking arm of the Baden
cavalry, who had much more difficult terrain to contend with. The Leibchevaulegers chased them as far as the outskirts of
Neumarkt.

When the French voltigeurs uncovered a wine cellar in a nearby country house, they sent the wine on a cart to the Leibeskadron,
shouting “For the German cavalry, who are so excessively brave”. Masséna presented Stabsrittmeister von Bismark to Napoleon
on the 5th May at Enns with the words “Here is a young officer of the German cavalry who shows much promise.” Napoleon
invested von Bismark with the Croix du Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.

From the Inn to Linz, 1st to 5th May

From the 26th to the 30th, the Württemberg troops had been forced to constantly bivouac. The rain fell in torrents and the fields
were drenched into swamps. In spite of these conditions and blockages caused by the trains and Cuirassiers, the troops marched
160 km in the five days.37 Rations were miserable as, due to the French system of “living off the land” rather than using their
reserve magazines, the local inhabitants had fled with all their supplies.38

On the 1st May, the cavalry managed the ride over the Inn, which was not very deep at Schärding, in columns of four. In the
course of the whole remaining campaign, the Württemberg Cavallerie-Division consisted of only the two Jäger-Regimente-zu-
Pferd, as the two Chevaulegers-Regimente formed new Brigades in conjunction with other Rheinbund and French troops.

The VIII Corps crossed the Inn at Braunau, completing the crossing early on the 2nd May. Vandamme, with the leichte Brigade,
the two reitende Batterien, and the Jäger-Regimenter-zu-Pferd Herzog Louis and König moved forward to Riedau.

On the 4th May, Vandamme was ordered forward to Enns and at 10 am, Berthier sent him orders to occupy Linz, to establish a
bridgehead and to organise a magazine there.

The Capture of Linz-Urfahr, 5th May

At Linz the Danube is 250 m wide and connected by a bridge to the town of Urfahr.

Urfahr was garrisoned by Generalmajor Richter with 10 companies

(1500 men) of the 3. and 4. Prachiner Landwehrbataillonen plus
replacement troops from the line infantry regiments Deutschmeister,
Jordis, Klebek and Lindenau, a squadron of Vincent Chevaulegers and
a few men from the Hessen-Homburg Husaren. Vandamme, finding the
bridge destroyed and that all boats had disappeared, sent a summons,
demanding that Richter evacuate the town and hand over all boats and
transport vehicles on the left bank.39 Naturally, the summons was
ignored.

At 4.30 am, Vandamme had all his drummers and trumpeters sound
their instruments, then lined up his Corps along the Danube from Linz
to St. Margareten. The artillery was deployed opposite Urfahr, on the
river bank and the castle heights.

During a bombardment from the 20 Württemberg guns, which set 31

houses ablaze, Secondlieutenant Nestel, from Hauptmann von
Scheidemantel's company of the 2. Fußjäger-Bataillon found a small
boat, in which he managed to ferry across 20 Jäger. Reaching the half-
Map 4. Capture of Urfahr burnt bridge, he called across the river for help. As luck would have it,
two Ulm shipmasters, Martin and Johann Molfenter, were in Ulm on
business and they volunteered to ferry the Württembergers across.40

35
Krieg 1809 Band III Neumarkt, p. 267.
36
Bismark received two light sabre wounds in a duel with two Austrian officers.
37
Fromm, Ferdinand. Geschichte des Infanterie-Regiments König Wilhelm I (6. Württ.) No 124, Ravensburg, Ulrich, 1910, p. 39.
38
Nübling, p. 98.
39
Krieg 1809, Band IV Aspern, p. 182.
40
Muff & Wencher, p. 20; Nübling, p. 99.
The companies of von Scheidemantel and Hauptmann von Seeger from the 2. Fußjäger-Bataillon under its commander Oberst von
Neuffer crossed the Danube 1km upstream from Linz on two large barges, hidden from Urfahr by the hill of Spatzenhof.
Hauptmann von Scheidemantel knew the area from 1805, when the Württembergers garrisoned the town. He sent two Züge
against the Austrian flank along the river, while two more went round the Spatzenhof. One Zug from von Seeger's company under
Oberlieutenant Landenberger went round the rear of the town while the rest of the company, under Oberst von Neuffer, followed
von Scheidemantel. Attacking with fixed bayonets, the two companies overthrew the brigade facing them, capturing Generalmajor
Richter, 14 officers and 165 other ranks, as well as a large amount of money and stores (Map 4).41

Protecting the Bridgehead, 6th to 16th May

Over the next ten days, Vandamme sent out a number of reconnaissance patrols each usually consisting of a mixture of Fußjäger
and Jäger-zu-Pferd, sometimes with reitende Artilllerie attached, along the roads leading from Bohemia into the Urfahr
bridgehead. On the 6th May, von Hügel sent out patrols, which confirmed that the immediate vicinity was clear of the enemy as
far as Wildberg to the north and Gallneukirchen to the northeast.

On the 7th May, Major Graf Salm of Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König proceeded along the road to Freistadt, with the Leib-
Escadron of his regiment and companies Starkloff and Seeger of Bataillon Neuffer. On the hills lying before the village of Unter-
Weitersdorf, the vanguard, a platoon of Seeger’s Company under Premier-Lieutnant Landenberger and a detachment of Jäger-zu-
Pferd, collided with a picket of Erzherzog Ferdinand Husaren, which was thrown back to Unter-Weitersdorf.

The village was occupied by detachment of Infanterie-Regiment Lindenau, attached to Detachement Orosz and a squadron of the
Erzherzog Ferdinand Husaren, which marched out ready for battle. Salm sent out a company to encircle to the left, and attacked
the Husaren with his squadron, while the Jäger developed an attack to the left and right of the road, causing the Austrians evacuate
the village. The Husaren also seem to have been overthrown by the Jäger-zu-Pferd. The Württembergers followed up to the
heights of Götschka, where they could see encamped troops, probably the detachment under Rittmeister Schnehen, pulling back
from Gallneukirchen. The Austrians called in reinforcements, principally cavalry, and sent them into the attack, but the Jäger took
position in an advantageous area. In the face of the well-entrenched Jäger, the Austrians abandoned the attack. According to the
Württembergers, they lost 30-40 prisoners, according to the Austrians 18. The Württembergers lost three men and three horses
dead, an officer of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König, five men and two horses wounded.

The Austrian detachment, which Major Salm accurately estimated at one and a half squadrons and 100-120 infantry, pulled back
to Neumarkt. The Württembergers, who were extremely tired, did not follow them. Early on the 8th May, patrols found Neumarkt
empty and the reconnaissance detachment, which felt itself too weak to move further to Freistadt, laid waste to Neumarkt and
plundered Prägarten, then went back to Pflaster. 42

Oberst von Breunig was sent with approximately 480 men of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König, 100 from each of the four light
battalions, the Grenadier-Compagnien of Herzog Wilhelm and Kronprinz and two horse guns to Freistadt, via Gallneukirchen.
They arrived at Freistadt at 2 pm on the 9th, without any significant meeting with the Austrians. 43

On the 9th and 10th May, Herzog Louis moved to Leonding, south of Linz, with its outposts on the Donau. Secondlieutenant von
Adelsheim, returning from a patrol, was followed by a superior unit of Austrian Dragoner that suddenly appeared and caught up at
Kaplanhof, not far from Linz, whereupon the detachment of the Louisjägers pulled back into the city through the Wassertor.

On the 11th May, Vandamme ordered Generallieutenant von Wöllwarth, with the two Jäger-Regimente-zu-Pferd, to undertake a
reconnaissance towards Budweis, in order to possibly collect more information about the enemy. At 4 am, von Wöllwarth went
with the two Jäger-Regimente onto the left bank of the Danube. The bulk of the brigade was sent forward on the Budweis road,
while Rittmeister von Wagner of König, with one squadron, was directed onto the right flank from Katzbach, via Mauthausen to
Freistadt, and Secondlieutenant Bischer of Herzog Louis was sent for the same purpose from Unterweitersdorf, via Pregarten and
Aich also to Freistadt. In Neumarkt (30 km from Linz), the main body made a two-hour halt and ate. On the road to Neumarkt, no
trace of the enemy was found, so at 12 they set off again and advanced towards Freistadt (8 km from Neumarkt).

Hearing from countrymen that the enemy were immediately behind the town, von Wöllwarth made a halt about 1000 paces before
the town, behind a hill. The brigade formed in dense closed columns and Herzog Louis received the order to move forward at the
gallop through the town with two squadrons and straight out of the Böhmertor and onto the enemy, while the other 2 squadrons
would go over the Promenade, round the left of the town and fall on the enemy’s flank. König remained on the south of the town
as reserve. The dispositions were carried out as ordered, but without meeting the enemy.

Reports from the inhabitants described the enemy corps as composed of Husaren-Regiment Erzherzog Ferdinand and Dragoner-
Regiment Vincent, with one battalion of Jäger, a small infantry detachment and eight guns, but had already left Freistadt at 10 am,
leaving behind a picket of 30 cavalry. This picket marched out through the Linzertor. Strong patrols sent out on the roads towards

41
419 300 Francs in gold bars; biscuit, flour, grain and salt; military cloth, cotton, tobacco and (especially welcome) 2,600 pairs of shoes (Krieg 1809, Band IV
Aspern, p. l85).
42
Krieg 1809, Band IV Aspern, pp. 191-192; Nübling, p. 100.
43
Krieg 1809, Band IV Aspern, pp. 193-4. This mentions four grenadier companies, but each Infanterie-Regiment only had one (in the I Bataillon), so there can
only have been two.
Budweis and Sandel (north east of Freistadt) brought no further information. Meanwhile, Rittmeister von Wagner and
Secondlieutenant Bischer arrived from their flank marches with the further information that they collided with a patrol of enemy
Husaren at Kefermarkt (east of Neumarkt).

At almost the same time, Oberst von Brüsselle reported that he was advancing on Neumarkt in support with the 2. leichte
Bataillon (700 men). Wöllwarth, in the assumption that the enemy was in an easterly direction, which the statements of the locals,
as well as the reports of the two dispatched officers seemed to confirm, gave the order to Oberst von Brüsselle to swing right from
Neumarkt with his battalion, in order to engage the enemy and hold them fast until the cavalry could arrive via St Ostwald and St
Leonhard (20 km from Freistadt) and fall on the enemy’s flank and rear.

To carry out this movement, they marched out of Freistadt again at 4 pm In a mountainous, richly wooded terrain, on tracks that
became worse hour by hour, held up by the passage of countless defiles, with night falling before anything could be seen of the
enemy, they reached St Leonhard. Finally, as it did not seem advisable to go further in complete darkness in this terrain, a bivouac
was taken half an hour from St Leonhard. As security, they posted 100 men on foot as sentries under Premierlieutenant von
Schütz and Secondlieutenant Finckh and sent out patrols under Premierlieutenant Nagel. At midnight, Oberst von Brüsselle
entered Gutau (8 km from Neumarkt and 10 km from St Leonhard), without discovering a trace of the enemy.

On the 12th May, at daybreak, the Cavalry Brigade marched to Gutau to unite with Bataillon Brüsselle. According to incoming
information, the enemy had gone via Weissenbach and Königswiesen on the road to Zwettel and continued their march in the
direction of Krems. Wöllwarth decided to break out and follow the enemy, if possible catching up with his rearguard. They
immediately marched to Zell, where they reached the Königswiesen road at 10 am An order from Vandamme reached the column
here, instructing Wöllwarth not to go further with his detachment, but to observe the vicinity of Weissenbach, through strong
advanced pickets and patrols. They therefore took position by Zell, and in the afternoon they sent to Pierbach and Riedersdorf one
officer and 40 men of Jäger-Regiment König, who returned to Zell at 11 pm without having discovered anything about the enemy.
At night, another order arrived from Vandamme, who, suspecting Wöllwarth to be in Waidersfelden (north west of Weissenbach),
ordered his reconnaissance column back to Freistadt in order to unite with Generalmajor von Hügel, who had pushed forward to
Neumarkt with the other three battalions of the Light Brigade.

They set off from Zell at 5am on the 13th May and marched back to Gutau. Arriving there at 8am, they waited there for
Stabshauptmann von Hoffmann of the 2. leichte Bataillon, who had been sent to Weissenbach yesterday and had not yet returned.
At 12 pm, he finally arrived, having seen a patrol of Husaren in Weissenbach and picked up three stragglers that he brought with
him. At 1pm, Vandamme ordered that two battalions of Hügel’s brigade would stay in Neumarkt, one battalion in Spattendorf,
west of the road from Gallneukirchen to Neumarkt and the fourth, battalion Brüsselle, to Mauthausen. To carry out the order, von
Wöllwarth took the Cavalry Brigade to Pregarten, as the mid-point of the positions taken up by the infantry. Bataillon Brüsselle
and one squadron of König were detached to Mauthausen and one squadron of the König to Neumarkt. The villages of Sandel,
Nadelberg, Weissenbach, Minichdorf and Grein, as well as the roads to Rosenberg, Weitra and Zwettel were combed by the
infantry and, as far as the terrain and their exhausted condition allowed, also by the cavalry.

On the 14th May, the advance guard stayed in these positions, while a strong patrol went via Zell to Minichdorf, without,
however, finding any of the enemy. From these arrangements, it seemed that Vandamme expected the enemy to be mainly in the
east, to the right of his position and these assumptions were completely justified by the discovery of Austrian patrols in this
region; the latter seem primarily to have been the retiring troops of Stutterheim. The main danger already threatened to be from
the north, in that Feldzeugmeister Kolowrat, advancing from Budweis, had already reached Kaplitz, while his vanguard under
Feldmarschalllieutenant Somariva pushed forward to Unterhaid, 20 km north of Freistadt. Vandamme received reports of these
movements, or at least the advance of enemy troops in the north of his position, whereupon he ordered the advance guard to draw
nearer to the Urfahr-Linz position.

On the 15th May, the following positions were taken up by the Advance Guard.

Generallieutenant von Wöllwarth

Hellmonsödt 2. Fußäger-Battalion von Neuffer
Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis
Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König (2 squadrons)
Weitersdorf 2. leichte Bataillon von Brüsselle
Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König (1 squadron)
Generalmajor von Hügel
Gallneukirchen 1st Fußäger-Battalion König
Mauthausen 1. leichte Bataillon von Wolff
Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König (1 squadron)

The advanced posts on the road forward of Hellmonsödt were commanded by Generalmajor von Stettner. At 1pm, a patrol of 40
cavalry was sent forward via Zwettel (an der Rodl) to Leonfelden and found out that an Ulanen detachment of 20 cavalry had been
there on the 13th, but discovered nothing of the enemy itself and, after an hour, returned on the road from Rosenberg. 44 On the
13th May, Napoleon accepted the surrender of Wien (Vienna).

44
Starklof, zweitenReiterregiments, pp. 115-123; Krieg 1809, pp. 212; Nübling, pp. 100-101.
Somariva’s column had seven battalions, one and a half squadrons and two batteries (one of four 3pdrs, one of four 6pdrs). The
column should have reached its march goal as inconspicuously as possible, but the right flank guard, under Oberstlieutnant von
Suden of the 5. Jäger Bataillon collided with the Württembergers at Leonfelden.

As the Württemberg light infantry and the cavalry pulled back into the bridgehead, a reconnaissance detachment of 72 men of the
2. Fußjäger-Bataillon under Hauptmann Starkloff and 80 commanded cavalry of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis under
Stabsrittmeister von Werder were pushed forward to Leonfelden.

Leaving Hellmonsödt at 2am, the detachment reached Leonsfelden at 5am. The northern boundary was occupied by Fußjäger
while the Jäger zu Pferd took position in front of the town. Patrols, each consisting of nine cavalry and nine infantry were sent
onto the roads to Rosenberg and Haslach. About an hour north of Leonfelden, the first collided with the vanguard of the Austrian
column, numbering 30 cavalry and 300 infantry. On this report, Rittmeister Werder trotted forward with his 62 men to meet the
patrol. Only two and a half kilometres forward of Leonfelden, he met the Austrians, which he estimated at 1000 Ulanen, 600
Tyroler-Jäger, 4000 infantry and six batteries.

Now pressed by the Jäger and Ulanen, who had arrived in the meantime, Werder pulled back to Leonfelden, where the fire from
the Fußjäger entrenched in the gardens halted the pursuers for a moment. Soon, however, the Jäger and Landwehr went over to the
attack, which forced the Württemberg Jäger to evacuate the town and retreat back into the woods lying to the southwest. Werder
covered the retreat.

They managed to conduct a fighting retreat without sustaining many casualties.45 While the cavalry were covering the retreat of
the Fußjäger, they noticed a Jäger sitting behind a house, happily contemplating a large container of milk. At this moment some
Austrian Ulanen arrived. The Jäger whipped his gun up to his hip, shot the first Ulan off his horse and the rest made a hasty
retreat, allowing the Württembergers to retire in safety.

The Austrians pushed behind, until by Zwettl the Württembergers found support from Wagner’s squadron of the Jäger-Regiment
zu Pferd König and a small detachment under Secondlieutenant Mengen of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis. During the
retreat from Leonfelden, the Ulanen put in five attacks, but in view of the small losses and Werder’s assertions that he had “turned
away” the attacks, it seems they did not actually come to blows.

Because of the capture of Leonfelden, the patrol sent to Haslach under Unteroffizier Weiß was cut off, but they finally cut through
to Zwettl, with the loss of a badly wounded Louisjäger and five Fußjäger, who fell into Austrian hands. The most important result
of this insignificant fight, which apparently cost the Württembergers three wounded, one dead and one wounded horse and five
prisoners was that Vandamme began to harbour concerns and requested the support of Bernadotte’s Corps for the 17th.

Battle of Linz-Urfahr, 17th May

All Generalmajor von Hügel's battalions had only 3 companies, the
fourth one from each being detached with Capitaine Delau to Steyr,
Map 5. Battle of Linz-Urfahr, afternoon 20km south of Enns, with 50 men from each of the two cavalry
regiments46.

During the next eleven days, the Württembergers sent out a series of
reconnaissance patrols, each usually consisting of a mixture of Fußjäger and
Jäger-zu-Pferd, sometimes with horse artillery attached. On the 11th May, a
patrol under Major Graf Salm, consisting of the Leibeskadron of the Jäger-
Regiment zu Pferd König and the companies of von Starkloff and von Seeger
from Fußjäger-Bataillon von Neuffer collided with 1½ squadrons of the
Erzherzog Ferdinand Husaren and 100-120 infantry from the Lindenau
regiment near Unter Weitersdorf, between Gallneukirchen and Gotschka. The
Württembergers attacked and captured between 18 and 65 Austrians for the
loss of 3 dead and 5 wounded.47 On the 16th May, 72 Jäger from von Neuffer
and 80 cavalry from Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis under
Hauptrnann von Starkloff and Stabsrittmeister von Werder met an Austrian
force of 1000 Ulanen, 600 Tiroler Jäger, 4000 infantry and 6 guns. They
managed to conduct a fighting retreat without sustaining many casualties.48
Map 5. Battle of Linz-Urfahr, afternoon The information from these patrols made it obvious that an attack on
the bridgehead at Linz was imminent. By the morning of 17th May,
Generalmajor von Hügel's Brigade was astride the two northern roads. One company from von Neuffer's Jäger-Bataillon was in
45
Krieg 1809, pp. 213-4, Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments, pp. 124-7.
46
The actual number of men detached is a little uncertain. Krieg 1809, pv215 says two companies of the two Jäger battalions and 50 cavalry, yet the order of
battle on p 746 says one company of each of the four light battalions and 100 cavalry. Nübling, (pp 102-3), says that 80 of the van Neuffer Jäger and 24 Louisjäger
were detached to Steyr followed by von Gaisberg's company of the Königsjäger and a company of the leichte Infanterie. He gives dispositions at Linz (pp 103-4)
for each of the four companies of von Neuffer.
47
Krieg 1809, pp 191-2. The discrepancy in figures is due to differences in Austrian and Württemberg accounts. The truth probably lies somewhere between the
two.
front of Katzbach with the Leibeskadron of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis. The rest of Herzog Louis, with 3
squadrons of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König was behind Katzbach with the Fußjäger-Bataillon König. The two leichte-
Bataillonen von Wolff and von Brusselle were at the entrance to the Haselgraben, with a small detachment in the village and
church of St. Magdalena.49 Von Seeger's company of von Neuffer and a squadron of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König were at
Wildberg in the Haselgraben. Hauptmann von Bartruff’s 2. Reitende-Batterie was by Dornach and Hauptmann von Brand's
Reitende-Batterie Maison du Roi was in Urfahr.

The main Austrian attack, under Feldmarschalllieutenant Freiherr von Vukassovich, came from the eastern, Gallneukirchen, road.
The vanguard, under Generalmajor Graf Crenneville, consisted of 4 squadrons of the Merveldt-Ulanen, 4 squadrons of the
Hessen-Homburg-Husaren, the 6. Jägerbataillon, the I Bataillon Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment Peterwardein Nr. 9 and a 6pdr
Kavalleriegeschützbatterie. The main body consisted of 3 battalions of Infanterie-Regiment Manfredini, 3 battalions of Infanterie-
Regiment Karl Schröder, 2 battalions of Infanterie-Regiment Württemberg, a Positions-Batterie of 6 guns and 2 other Brigade-
Batterien, a total of 5929 infantry, 834 cavalry and 24-28 guns.50

Facing Crenneville, who had arrived at the foot of the hills at 2 pm, the company of von Neuffer in advanced posts fell back into
Katzbach. Part of the 6. Jägerbataillon quickly pushed into the village, capturing the quartermasters of the Saxon Husaren-
Regiment, who were there obliviously setting up billets. The attackers were themselves thrown back by the Königsjäger, but they
in turn were forced back when the rest of the 6. Jägerbataillon and the battalion of the Peterwardein Grenz joined in the assault.

The Württemberg Jäger, supported by the cavalry, retired slowly to Dornach, while the Austrians prepared their attack. The 6.
Jägerbataillon and three companies of the Peterwardein Grenz prepared to assault the village, while the other 3 Grenz companies
advanced over the hills north of Auhof against St. Magdalena. The II Bataillon Infanterie-Regiment Karl Schröder left two
companies to garrison Katzbach, while the other four developed north of the road, their third ranks extending the skirmish line of
the light infantry. Half a squadron of the Merveldt Ulanen protected the left flank of the Jäger, while the rest advanced behind
their infantry. The Kavalleriegeschützbatterie moved north of the road and exchanged fire with von Bartruff's 2. Reitende-Batterie
by Dornach.

The advance of the Austrian infantry, 13 companies strong, forced the four Württemberg companies back to Steeg, which they
defended stubbornly. The two Jäger-Regimente zu Pferd fell back behind the village, Herzog Louis to the left and König to the
right. At the same time the three companies of the Peterwardein Grenz advancing over the hills to the north threw the weak
leichte-Infanterie detachment out of St. Magdalena.

Vandamme and his staff 51 reacted by sending the rest of the Württemberg troops, with two Saxon cavalry regiments 52, against the
Austrians. Kolowrat ordered the attack to cease, sacrificing Crenneville’s advance guard. The Jäger advanced once more on the
left flank. At the same time the light infantry moved against St Magdalena. Oberst von Wolff sent Kechler's company round the
Austrian right flank; the other two companies of the battalion climbed, sometimes in single file, up the steep slopes against the
churchyard and village, both surrounded by walls and hedges. 53 Von Brüsselle's battalion, followed by the von Neuffer Jäger
company from the Haselgraben, moved on their left. Von Bartruff s 2. Reitende-Batterie supported the attack.

As the Württemberg assault line moved east, the Jäger wheeled south to take the Austrians in flank. At this the Merveldt Ulanen
moved forward to threaten the left flank of the Jäger. The Leibeskadron of Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd Herzog Louis was ordered to
attack the Merveldt Ulanen, with Münchingen's squadron in support. The Württemberg cavalry caught the Uhlanen in front and
flank. The Merveldt Ulanen broke and fled back to the hills around Katzbach, pursued by the Württembergers. The half III
Bataillon Infanterie-Regiment Manfredini, advancing to reinforce the advance guard from the hill to the north of Katzbach, was
broken in the pursuit and their second Oberst captured.

Katzbach was quickly torn from its defenders, but further advance was prevented by accurate fire from the battery on the hill to
the north.54 This battery was now cut off, but its commander bravely decided to fight on to cover the retreat of the others. His only
support was the half III Bataillon Infanterie-Regiment Manfredini and the stragglers of Crennevi1le's advance guard in the
adjacent woods.

48
Krieg 1809, pp 213-4, Starklof (zweiten Reiterregiments), pp 124-7. Starklof mentions an incident while the cavalry were covering the retreat of the Fußjäger.
They noticed a Jäger sitting behind a house, happily contemplating a large container of milk. At this moment some Austrian Ulanen arrived. The Jäger whipped
his gun up to his hip, shot the first Ulan off his horse and the rest made a hasty retreat, allowing the Württembergers to retire in safety.
49
Nübling, pp 102-3, says that the advanced post consisted of 80 Königsjäger under Unterlieutenants von Imthurn and Scheler, while companies von Starkloff and von Hehl of von
Neuffer were at the entrance to the Haselgraben with the two leichte Infanterie-Bataillonen, As named members of both von Starkloff and von Hehl's companies became casualties, this
seems likely to be true.
50
Krieg 1809, p 236.
51
The Württemberg Generaladjutant, Generallieutenant Graf von Theobald states in his report to his King that Vandamme panicked and left the conduct of the
battle to Oberst von Kerner, his Chief of Staff (Kraft, p. 177).
52
Bernadotte’s Saxons started arriving in Linz at about 1pm.
53
Kraft, p. 175.
54
Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments, pp. 30-3l. Württemberg sources place this battery on the Pfennig Berg. Krieg 1809, (p. 253), considers this impossible as Katzbach is either out of
range or in dead ground from viable gun positions on this mountain and the cavalry charge would have met Austrian units, none of which reported it, and would have had to pass through an
almost impenetrable wood. The position they favour did have a battery on it, could affect the attacks on both Katzbach and Auhof and had all the features described. It is, incidentally, also
the position shown (incorrectly) by Schuster & Franke (Band II Skizze 18, Tafel VIII) as the Pfennig Berg.
Generallieutenant von Wöllwarth gave Major Graf Waldburg-Wurzach, the commander of Herzog Louis, the command to attack
the battery. As the two squadrons already in action had not yet reformed, there remained only von Raßler's squadron and the
Commandeur-Eskadron. Von Raßler's squadron rode straight at the battery, while the Commandeur-Eskadron, under
Stabsrittmeister von Seebach, took the track to the right, by which the battery had ascended. At the same time, Bernadotte gave
Generalmajor Gutschmidt the order to attack the battery from the north with the Saxon Husarenregiment and the Prinz Albrecht
Chevaulegers and von Milkau's squadron of the Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd König rode for the escort through the woods.55

At the foot of the hill, von Raßler's squadron hit a ditch, which Major von Raßler and Secondlieutenant von Kunsberg both
crashed into. The leadership of the squadron fell on Secondlieutenant von Adelsheim, who led the squadron up the steep slope
until they charged into the battery. A fierce struggle arose over the guns with the battery escort, during which Adelsheim was
badly wounded.56 Help arrived in the form of the Kommandeureskadron, followed by von Milkau, the Saxons and 30 Grenadiere
from Infanterie-Regiment von Phull,57 who drove the Austrians into the woods. All six of the battery's guns were captured.

During the melee, the commander of Manfredini was recognised and captured by Unteroffizier Weiß of Jäger-Regiment zu Pferd
Herzog Louis. In 1805 Weiß was in Austrian service 58 and harshly punished by the same officer for a minor misdemeanour. The
Oberst's orderly loyally followed him into captivity with his spare horses.

With the capture of the battery, the pace of the Württemberg advance increased. The Austrians retired in good order and a series
of skilful rearguard actions prevented serious losses. The Württembergers stopped at the foot of the hills, apart from a few sent in
pursuit of the retreating troops.

At the seeming moment of victory, Vandamme and Bernadotte were

shocked to hear the thunder of cannon from their rear. Somariva’s
column had arrived on the Pöstlingberg in time to see Kolowrat's
column in retreat. Realising that an attack alone was out of the
question, he sent three battalions back into the valley to cover any
retreat up the Haselgraben, while the rest of his troops, one and a half
battalions of Infanterie-Regiment Wenzel Colloredo, the 5.
Jägerbataillon, a platoon of Merveldt Ulanen and 40 Pioniere, he set up
on both sides of the church on the Pöstlingberg and stationed his guns
so as to fire on the only two visible guns in the Urfahr entrenchments.

Bernadotte sent two and a half battalions against the Austrians; they
attacked twice, but were repulsed each time. As night fell, the fighting
died down and the battle seemed to be over. Vandamme, however,
gave Generalmajor von Hügel the order to take the Pöstlingberg.

Hügel had only the three company strong Jäger-Bataillon König and
von Seeger's company of von Neuffer available. These were very tired,
having fought continuously since 2 pm and had shot away all their
Map 6. Battle of Linz-Urfahr, evening ammunition. With fixed bayonets they climbed the hill in pitch
darkness, surprising an Austrian sentry post without firing a shot.
Almost at the top, they met a half Jäger company, but managed to convince them that they were Austrians. Six paces from the
enemy their bluff was called and a salvo hit them, but in the darkness they created enough confusion to start the precipitate retreat
of the Austrians and captured around 800 men, although only nine officers and 375 men of these did not escape in the dark.59

This was the last major engagement of the Württembergers and, apart from odd skirmishes, they had little to do beyond securing
the Danube west of Vienna and marching to Graz.

Aspern -Essling

The only Württemberg unit to take part in the battle of Aspern-Essling was the Chevaulegers-Regiment Herzog Heinrich, which
had been attached to Imperial Headquarters, but between Ried and Wien had been ordered to leave four Chevaulegers as security

55
Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments, pp. 135-7; Neubronner, pp. 17-20; Exner, Moritz. Die Antheilnahme der Königlich Sächsischen Armee am Feldzuge gegen
Österreich, Dresden, Baensch, 1894, p. 31; Kraft, p. 176.
56
Adelsheim was in so deep a coma that he was thought to be dead. Only a slight movement of his hand while being placed in his coffin prevented him being
buried alive. He made a full recovery. Starklof p. 141.
57
According to the regimental history (Pfister, Albert. Geschichte des württ. Infanterieregiments (Grenadierregiment Königin Olga) Nr. 119, Stuttgart, Kirn,
1875, p. 17) it was the “Tirailleurs” of the regiment, not the Grenadiere.
58
Weiß was born in a part of Austria that was transferred to Württemberg after the Treaty of Preßburg in 1805. Starklof, zweiten Reiterregiments, p. 31.
59
Some Saxon sources state (Exner, p. 32) that the Pöstlingberg was captured by the third attack, but in view of the account in Krieg 1809, Band IV Aspern, pp.
259-261, including Somariva's own report, the comments of Vandamme and Bernadotte and the fact that decorations were only given to the cavalry, makes this
unlikely. Perhaps the retirement of the Austrian outposts and the troops sent by Somariva to the Haselgraben were interpreted as a general retreat. Kurz, Franz.
Geschichte der Landwehre in Oesterreich ob der Enns, Linz, Haslinger, 1811and Pritz, Franz Xaver. Geschichte des Landes ob der Enns von der ältesten bis zur neuesten Zeit, Linz.
Haslinger, 1847 also mention the capture of a gun, but Krieg 1809 and Württemberg sources do not confirm this.
at every post station. This left the regiment with a total strength of 160 men. Nevertheless, around daybreak on the 21st, they were
ordered over the pontoon bridge at Ebersdorf to form the vanguard of the right flank of the Grande Armée. 60

As Erzherzog Karl prepared his attack against the French bridgehead, Herzog Heinrich was moved over behind Eßling and
attached to the Piré’s Brigade, in Lasalle’s Division. When the Austrian forces neared the French lines, Maréchal Bessières was
ordered to charge the Austrians. After a melee in which Cuirasser Général de Division Espagne was killed and Bessières nearly
captured, the situation was rescued by the intervention of Lasalle’s Division, including the Herzog Heinrich Chevaulegers.

Generallieutenant von Wöllwarth reported: “In the Battle of Ebersdorf, on the far side of the Donau, the regiment Herzog Heinrich
made more than eight shocks during the day, always with success against enemy cavalry, until in the evening they received the
order to retire. During this, the regiment noticed another enemy detachment to the side. The uninterrupted hard fatigues of the day
at once forgotten, they asked the commanding French General 61 for permission to make another attack on this detachment. It was
granted and the enemy overthrown for the ninth time by this brave regiment. The French General was astounded by this stroke of
bravery, commenting that not even a French regiment, which after such a hard day had received the order to retire, would have
done this.”62

In the second attack, against infantry, Major von Wiederhold was killed and in the last, against Husaren supported by infantry and
Oberst von Jett was wounded by a musket ball in the right arm. 63 Herzog Heinrich was also in action on the afternoon of the 22nd,
as two men were killed by cannon fire and two by sabre blows, one of which was also wounded by a lance thrust. This implies
that at some time they came up against the Schwarzenberg Ulanen, which was the only lance-armed unit in the vicinity. 64

Summary

The Württemberg light troops were highly thought of by the French, being entrusted with acting as a vanguard on several
occasions. They were extremely adaptable, being capable of acting as whole units, as individual companies, squadrons or guns or
as combinations of different units and arms and were able to march long distances in a short time, then fight a battle immediately
afterwards. Individual officers were able to show initiative, as they were appointed on ability, rather than social status 65. Of the
Fußäger, König generally acted as a complete unit and led the assaults, while Neuffer was often used as individual companies or
as support.

A variety of tactics were used to conform to the situation.

1) Attack on front and flank of enemy rearguard (infantry, cavalry and artillery) - Abensberg.
2) Capture of an enemy hussar outpost by stealth (infantry) - Ergoldsbach.
3) Frontal attack and double envelopment of enemy held village (infantry, cavalry and artillery) - Buchhausen.
4) Assault of enemy held bridge and village (infantry and artillery) - Eggmühl.
5) Capture of an enemy dragoon outpost by stealth (cavalry) - Geisling
6) Initiative and bluff by a small unit to capture a large town (cavalry) - Braunau.
7) Force the retreat of an enemy rearguard of cavalry and infantry (cavalry) - Riedau
8) Assault river crossing and flank and rear attack on superior force (infantry) - Urfahr.
9) Patrols to identify enemy movements and intentions (infantry, cavalry and artillery) - Linz-Urfahr.
10) Fighting retreat to hold up enemy vanguard, then switch to attack (infantry, cavalry and artillery) - Linz-Urfahr.
11) Capture of enemy battery by front and flank attack (cavalry) - Linz-Urfahr.
12) Uphill night attack with the bayonet to capture strategic hill (infantry) - Linz-Urfahr.

Bibliography

Bismark, Gen. Graf Friedrich Wilhelm von, Ideen-Taktik der Reuterei, Karlsruhe, Müller, 1829
Bonnal, Guillaume. L' Esprit de la Guerre Moderne. La Manouvre de Landshut, Paris, Chapelot 1905
Exner, Moritz. Die Antheilnahme der Königlich Sächsischen Armee am Feldzuge gegen Österreich, Dresden, Baensch, 1894
Fromm, Ferdinand. Geschichte des Infanterie-Regiments König Wilhelm I (6. Württ.) No 124, Ravensburg, Ulrich, 1910
Gessler, Karl & Tognarelli, Ulysses & Strobel, Theodor. Geschichte des 2. Württembergischen Feldartillerie-Regiments
Prinzregent Luitpold von Bayern, Stuttgart, Selbst-Verlag, 1892
Griesinger, Theodor. Geschichte des Ulanen-Regiments König Karl (1 Württembergisches) Nr 19, Stuttgart, Deutsche Verlag-
Anstalt, 1883
Kraft, Heinz, Die Württemberger in den Napoleonischen Kriegen, Stuttgart, Kohlhammer, 1952

60
Griesinger, p. 70.
61
Lasalle.
62
Griesinger, p. 70; Krieg 1809, Band IV Aspern, pp. 489-494
63
Krieg 1809, Band IV Aspern, p. 494.
64
ibid., p. 617.
65
Sauer, Paul. Die Neuorganisation des württembergischen Heerwesensunter Herzog, Kurfürst und König Friedrich (1797-1816), Zeitschrift für
württembergischen Landesgeschichte, Jahrgang XXVI, 1967, pp. 407-408
k. u. k. Kriegsarchiv. Kriege unter der Regierung des Kaisers Franz. Krieg 1809. 4 Bd., Band I Regensburg, Band III Neumarkt,
Band IV Aspern, Wien, Seidler & Sohn, 1907-10
Kurz, Franz. Geschichte der Landwehre in Oesterreich ob der Enns, Linz, Haslinger, 1811
Muff, Karl & Wencher, Hauptmann. Geschichte des Grenadier-Regiments König Karl (5 Württembergisches) Nr 123, Stuttgart,
Metzler, 1889
Neubronner, Oberleutnant von. Geschichte des Dragoner-Regiments König (2 Württembergisches) Nr 26, Stuttgart, Regimental,
no date
Nübling Hermann. Geschichte des Grenadier-Regiments König Karl (5 Württembergisches) Nr 123, Berlin, Eisenschmidt, 1911
Pfister, Albert. Geschichte des württ. Infanterieregiments (Grenadierregiment Königin Olga) Nr. 119, Stuttgart, Kirn, 1875
Pritz, Franz Xaver. Geschichte des Landes ob der Enns von der ältesten bis zur neuesten Zeit, Linz, Haslinger, 1847
Schmahl Julian & Speman, Gottfried. Geschichte des 2. Württembergischen Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 29 Prinzregent von
Bayern, Ludwigsburg, Selbstverlag, 1901
Schuster, Oscar & Franke F.A.. Geschichte der Sächsischen Armee (Band II), Leipzig, Duncker & Humblot, 1885
Spieß, Karl & Ritter, Hans. Geschichte des Dragoner-Regiments Königin Olga (1. Württ.) Nr. 25, Ludwigsburg, Selbst-Verlag,
1913
Stadlinger, Leo Jgnaz von. Geschichte des württembergischen Kriegswesen, Stuttgart, Guttenberg, 1856
Starklof, Richard, Geschichte des Württembergishen vierten Reiterregiments Königin Olga, Stuttgart, Aue, 1867
Starklof, Richard. Geschichte des Königlich Württembergischen zweiten Reiterregiments, Darmstadt / Leipzig, Zernin, 1862, 1867
Strack von Weissenbach. Geschichte des Königlich Württembergischen Artillerie, Stuttgart, Kohlhammer 1882
Zech, Carl von & Porbeck, Friedrich von. Geschichte der badischen Truppen 1809 im Feldzug gegen Österreich, Heidelberg,
Winter,1909
Wright, David. The Württemberg Army in the Campaign of 1809, Newthorpe, Partizan Press, 2013
Wright, David. Württemberg Infantry of the Napoleonic Wars, Godmanchester, Ken Trotman Publishing, 2017
Wright, David. Württemberg Cavalry, Artillery and Staff of the Napoleonic Wars, Godmanchester, Ken Trotman Publishing, 2017