How the Austrians planned to bury the Russian army near Vienna
The Battle of Amstetten. Artists Prosper Lafayette and Jean Alaux ("The Roman")
General situation
The capture of the remnants of Mack's Austrian Danube Army near Ulm did not yet end Napoleon's war with the Third Coalition (How the Austrians buried their army at Ulm). The Russian army under the command of Mikhail Kutuzov at this time, exhausted by the forced march, by October 11, 1805 concentrated in Braunau and found itself alone against the main forces of the French emperor (180 thousand).
During the defeat and capitulation of Mack's Austrian army, Kutuzov was in Braunau, awaiting the arrival of all troops. He had no information about the situation at Ulm. Archduke Ferdinand, in a letter dated September 28, 1805, reported that the army was intact and ready for battle. A day later, victory over the French was announced. After this, there were no letters from the Archduke or Mack, but rumors persisted, sometimes about the Austrian army retreating to the Tyrol, sometimes about crossing to the left bank of the Danube.
Kutuzov still placed his hopes on the Austrians, remembering that they had a well-trained and equipped army. The Russian commander planned to continue the advance once all his troops had assembled.
Meanwhile, Kutuzov received unexpected reinforcements. Kienmayer's Austrian corps, repulsed by the French at Donauwörth, arrived with 24 battalions and 60 squadrons (approximately 18,000 bayonets and sabres). Then, Count Nostitz, cut off from Ulm, arrived in Branau with three battalions and a hussar regiment. Neither Kienmayer nor Nostitz had any information about what had happened at Ulm. Kutuzov stationed Kienmayer's corps at Salzburg, and Nostitz's detachment at Passau.
The Russian troops approached Branau, exhausted from the forced march undertaken to quickly join up with the Austrians. Their shoes were falling apart, and many soldiers were barefoot. About 6 men were left sick along the way. A total of 32 men arrived in Branau. Including the Austrian troops, Kutuzov had about 50 soldiers.
The Austrian generals who were with Kutuzov, with whom he was required to confer by order of Emperor Alexander and the Viennese court, proposed an immediate march to Munich and the establishment of contact with Mack. The cautious Kutuzov preferred to first ascertain the situation and then act. In doing so, he saved the army. Had he listened to the Austrians, there would have been no way to escape the trap.
Finally, news broke that the Austrian army had suffered disaster. On October 11 (23), Karl Mack arrived in Branau, having been released on parole by Napoleon. He reported that of the 70,000-strong Danube Army, only 10 battalions sent to Tyrol and 14 squadrons that had left with Archduke Ferdinand for Bohemia had survived. Mack was unaware that of the 14 squadrons, only four had survived, and the battalions sent to Tyrol had also capitulated. The Austrian commander also reported that Napoleon was gathering an army near Munich and urged Kutuzov to retreat.
Austrian generals offered to cross over to the left bank of the Danube and to join the Bohemian corps with the Buxgevden corps. Kutuzov agreed with the need to concentrate all available forces (significant Austrian forces now remained only in Tyrol and Northern Italy), but noted that there are no troops from Branau to Vienna, except for his army. The Austrian capital is defenseless. Therefore, without the permission of the Austrian emperor, he cannot leave Vienna to the enemy and will retreat to Lambach, and from there to Linz or Enns, judging by the movement of the French troops.
In Vienna, upon learning of the death of the Danube army, they were horrified. Emperor Franz gathered a military council, which ordered the formation of a militia in Hungary, and the Archdukes Karl and John immediately to retreat from Italy and the Tyrol, to rush to save Austria and try to unite with Kutuzov.
Meanwhile, Kutuzov, cautious and unhurried, maintaining his presence of mind in the most difficult situations, was in no hurry to leave Branau, awaiting the enemy's actions. He ordered the removal of the sick, Austrian supplies and artillery and destroy the bridges across the Inna. Kutuzov tried to encourage the allies.
Despite the general despondency of the Austrians, the Russian army maintained high morale and wanted to fight the French, remembering its previous victories in Italy.
Prussia's position
In October 1805, that is, at the time when Mack, having locked himself in Ulm, was preparing to surrender and actually did so with his entire army, the Russian Emperor Alexander I was in Berlin, urging the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III to declare war on France. The Prussian monarch, Friedrich Wilhelm, was anxious and indecisive, like the other German electors. He feared both Alexander and Bonaparte.
At first, Alexander even wanted to blackmail Berlin, hinting at a forced Russian invasion of Prussian territory. The Prussian king showed unexpected firmness and began preparing for resistance. Prussian troops began advancing toward the eastern border.
Alexander then resorted to persuasion. Conveniently, news arrived that Napoleon had ordered Marshal Bernadotte to pass through Anspach, a southern Prussian possession, on his way to Austria. The violation of neutrality was clear, and the Prussian king, offended by Napoleon's arbitrary actions on the one hand, and not yet aware of the defeat of Mack's Austrian army on the other, began to lean toward intervening in the war on the side of the anti-French coalition. The Prussian court and military were outraged and demanded revenge. Prussian troops were now concentrated on the western border.
The negotiations concluded with a secret treaty between Frederick William III and Alexander. Prussia presented France with an ultimatum: reward the King of Sardinia; withdraw troops from Germany, Switzerland, and Holland; and separate the crown of France from the crown of Italy. Prussia promised to declare war on France if Napoleon did not provide a satisfactory response within a month.
Friedrich Wilhelm, Queen Louise (who was partial to Alexander and led the "war party"), and Alexander descended into the mausoleum, where, before the coffin of Friedrich II, they swore eternal friendship. Following this demonstration of mutual Russo-German affection, Alexander left Berlin for Austria. England and Austria rejoiced, hoping for the support of the strong Prussian army.
Napoleon's actions
After the Ulm victory, Napoleon sent Corps Augereau and Ney to Tyrol to attack the Austrian forces there and secure the right wing of the army. The main forces of the French army were concentrated in the Munich area.
On October 15 (27), the French launched an offensive toward the Inn River. Napoleon planned to defeat the Russian army before Prussia entered the war (rumors of this had already surfaced) and Kutuzov received reinforcements from Russia and joined forces with the remaining Austrian troops. He planned to defeat Kutuzov and occupy Vienna to intimidate Prussia and force Austria to capitulate.
Bonaparte divided the army into two parts. The first, led by the French emperor and consisting of the corps of Lannes, Davout, Soult, and the Guard, was sent to Branau. The second, consisting of the corps of Bernadotte, Marmont, and the Bavarian troops, advanced on Salzburg, outflanking the Russian army from the left flank. Murat's reserve cavalry formed the vanguard.
Contain the enemy "at every step"
The strategic situation for the allies was complex. The main forces of Austria and Russia were scattered across a vast area. The Austrian Archdukes Charles and John had not yet received orders to retreat from Italy and Tyrol. Buxhoeveden's troops were on the march from Troppau to Olmütz, and Bennigsen had marched from Warsaw. The Russian Guard was just leaving Warsaw.
Kutuzov stood at Branau and was supposed to be the first to encounter the enemy. The Viennese court presented Kutuzov with a very difficult task: avoid battle, conserve his troops, and simultaneously hold the enemy at every turn, giving the corps and troops of the archdukes arriving from Russia time to arrive. This task was utterly impossible. It was impossible to avoid battle, conserve his troops, and simultaneously hold the enemy "at every turn." Kutuzov noted this discrepancy in a letter to Emperor Franz.
Upon learning of the French army's movement and the appearance of enemy advance forces on the banks of the Inn, Kutuzov on October 17 (29) ordered the Russian troops to retreat from Branau to Lambach, and the Austrians under Kienmayer to retreat from Salzburg, covering the left flank. Nostitz's Austrian detachment was to advance from Passau to Linz.
The brave Bagration commanded the Russian rearguard, his cavalry was led by Count Wittgenstein, and his artillery by Lieutenant Colonel Yermolov. To reinforce Bagration's rearguard, General Miloradovich's detachment followed between him and the main body of the Russian troops.
The Russian army was in dire straits. It was already the second forced march, practically without breaks or rest, and now under threat of attack from superior enemy forces. Kutuzov's retreat was somewhat eased by the fact that there were numerous rivers (tributaries of the Danube) along his route, along which he could hold back the French advance with rearguard actions. Otherwise, the Russian army suffered severe hardships. There were no carts, no ammunition, no provisions, no clothing—nothing the Austrians had promised.
“We are walking at night, we have turned black... Officers and soldiers are barefoot, without bread...” wrote Dmitry Dokhturov, a participant in this campaign, home.
The Russian army, hastily retreating, reached the Trun River. On October 19, Russian troops arrived in Lambach and remained in the vicinity of Wels for two days, awaiting the arrival of Kienmayer's corps. Napoleon was also delayed while repairing the destroyed crossings. Emperor Francis soon arrived in Wels, and a war council was convened to discuss the next course of action.
Kutuzov essentially anticipated the 1812 campaign and proposed a difficult but necessary decision: not to persist in defending Vienna and, if necessary, to surrender it to the French, save the army, and transport it across the Danube. However, there was no need to rush. First, Kutuzov believed, it was necessary to hold off the French on the Enns River with part of the force, then cross to the left bank of the Danube, preventing the enemy from following. Meanwhile, unite the scattered allied forces and launch a counteroffensive.
Initially, the Austrian emperor expressed his willingness to sacrifice the capital. However, the Austrian generals pressed Kutuzov to hold out on the right bank of the Danube as long as possible, first beyond the Enns River, then defending the crossing at Krems, "whatever the cost," hoping that Austrian troops from northern Italy would arrive in time.
The Russian commander, who also had information about secret negotiations between the allies and the French regarding a separate peace, showed little interest in Austrian wishes. It's worth noting that, despite the Austrian Emperor's orders to mobilize the country (and the Austrian Empire had considerable resources), things were going poorly. Command was disorganized, the Austrians, after their defeat at Ulm, had lost morale and, lacking faith in the success of the anti-French coalition, desired peace at any cost. Our troops continued their retreat.
His Serene Highness Prince M. I. Kutuzov. Artist R. M. Volkov. Circa 1812–1813
Battle of Lambach
On October 19 (31), 1805, the first battle between the Russians and the French took place at Merzbach. Four Austrian battalions, moving between Kutuzov and Kienmeyer, were overtaken by Murat's cavalry. The Austrian Count Merfeld requested assistance from Bagration, who was stationed at Lambach. Bagration sent a squadron of Pavlograd Hussars, the 6th and 8th Jäger Regiments, and an artillery company to assist the allies.
Despite the enemy's significant superiority, our soldiers held them at bay for five hours. Jaegers twice launched bayonet charges. Our troops retreated only on command, allowing the Russian and Austrian forces to retreat further. During this first battle with the French, our troops lost 152 men, while the Austrians lost 400.
Ermolov wrote:
Our rearguard troops fought with the best spirit, and losses were insignificant. The 8th Jäger Regiment distinguished itself, its commander, Colonel Count Golovkin, dying of a wound. One gun from Colonel Ignatiev's horse artillery company was lost, its axle breaking due to excessive economy in the kolomasi. The command did not learn the exact cause, but Colonel Ignatiev, in his report, judged it best to disable it with enemy fire. The French vanguard, lacking in strength and provisions, scattered along the road and plundered.
After this battle, Kutuzov ordered the destruction of the bridges over the Trun and advanced toward the Enns River. Count Merfeld, who exercised overall command of the Austrian forces, advanced toward Steyer with Kienmayer's corps. On October 23 (November 4), our forces crossed the Enns River near the town of Enns. Murat pressed Bagration's rearguard all day, attempting to outflank and cut him off from the crossing. Unsuccessful in his intention, Murat attempted to seize the bridge. However, the Pavlograd hussars managed to set fire to the crossing.
Initially, Kutuzov, in accordance with Emperor Franz's wishes, planned to delay the enemy on this river and ordered fortifications to be built along the bank at various points. However, the French overthrew Merfeld's Austrians at Steyer and captured the crossing. Kutuzov continued his retreat, as the French now threatened his left flank and could pin the Russian army to the Danube.
Merfeld received orders from the Viennese court to separate from Kutuzov's army and march through Annaberg to defend the crossings near Vienna. Deprived of the support of the Austrian corps, Kutuzov advanced from Enns to Amstetten.
Napoleon followed Kutuzov, ordering Mortier's corps (three infantry and one cavalry division) to advance toward Linz, cross the Danube, and follow the left bank, preventing Kutuzov from crossing. Meanwhile, the French assembled every vessel they could find on the Danube, forming a flotilla to follow Mortier and help contain Kutuzov's forces. Bonaparte wanted to put Kutuzov between two fires.
The Emperor also sent Davout's corps to Annaberg to intercept Merfeld. Davout outpaced the Austrians and arrived at Annaberg before them. Merfeld, unexpectedly seeing the French before him, decided to advance toward Vienna via circuitous mountain routes. Pursued by the French, the Austrian corps quickly lost all its artillery and supply trains, and many soldiers were captured or fled.
As a result, the corps ceased to exist without a fight. Merfeld and a small detachment made their way into Hungary. Having scattered the Austrian corps, Davout advanced at full speed toward St. Pölten to join up with the main army.
Joachim Murat. Illustration for "Stories Napoleon" by Norvins, published in 1839. The author is the French engraver and illustrator Emile Giroud
Battles of Amstetten and Melk
On October 24 (November 5), Murat (10 men) attacked Bagration's rearguard near Amstetten, which consisted of 9 battalions of the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment, 4 battalions of Croats (Austrian light cavalry, staffed mainly by Croats), and several squadrons of Hesse-Hamburg Hussars.
The attack was so powerful that Kutuzov, who personally oversaw the battle, ordered Miloradovich's detachment to come to Bagration's aid. Miloradovich commanded the Little Russian Grenadier, Apsheron and Smolensk Musketeer, 8th Jäger, and Mariupol Hussar Regiments. The allied forces numbered over 6 men.
Miloradovich arrived when Bagration was already being pressed. Letting him pass, he formed his regiments into two lines. Murat renewed the attack and struck the right flank, where the Little Russian grenadiers were positioned. They repelled the attack. The enemy attack was also repelled by the right flank. Miloradovich then led the grenadier battalions of the Apsheron and Smolensk regiments in a counterattack. He forbade the soldiers to load their rifles, reminding them that Suvorov had taught them to use bayonets in Italy. The Russian soldiers charged with bayonets. However, Oudinot's French grenadiers, accustomed to victory, also proved to be brave. An unusually fierce hand-to-hand fight ensued. They fought to the point of exhaustion, but the French were routed. The French troops retreated in disarray.
After this, Miloradovich's detachment found itself in the rearguard. The Allies lost 1 men each, the French 1.
The Russian army retreated through Melk to St. Pölten. October 26 (November 7) Murat again attacked Russian troops. A detachment of Miloradovich took the battle from Melk. There was a violent fight. Both sides recorded the case in their favor. The French, because they continued the offensive, the Russians repelled the enemy attack, then retreated in order.
Napoleon interpreted the Russian army's movement as Kutuzov's attempt to defend Vienna from a more advantageous position. The emperor was convinced of this assumption by the approach of Buxhoeveden's Volynian Army to Olmütz and the Austrian concentration near the capital. Napoleon also received news that a new Russian army was marching through Moravia and approaching Krems. This was part of Kutuzov's army, which, upon leaving Russia, had been returned to Podolsk Governorate in case of war with Turkey, and was then sent back to Kutuzov. The French mistook this column for Buxhoeveden's army.
As a result, Napoleon believed that Kutuzov would defend Vienna. The stubborn rearguard actions at Merzbach, Amstetten, and Melk seemed to confirm Kutuzov's desire to delay the enemy and buy time for reinforcements to arrive.
Believing that Kutuzov would try to hold his position, the French emperor decided to encircle him in the Sankt Pölten area. To this end, Napoleon dispatched the corps of Bernadotte and Davout to outflank the enemy from the south, placing himself between him and Vienna. Lannes's corps, Oudinot's grenadier division, and Murat's cavalry were to attack the Russian army's right wing. Soult and the Guard advanced in the center. Mortier's corps was transferred to the left bank of the Danube at Linz, with the task of advancing eastward, capturing the crossings at Krems and cutting off the Russian flanking routes.
Napoleon's main forces were to encircle and crush Kutuzov's small army, preventing them from joining up with reinforcements. Marmont's corps was moved south, in case Archduke Charles's Austrian army appeared there. It was to hold back the Austrians if they attempted to break through to Vienna.
The Russian commander Kutuzov, conducting continuous reconnaissance, guessed the enemy’s plan to press him against the Danube and crush him. Having learned about the crossing of the Mortier Corps, the Russian army 28 of October (9 November) under the cover of the rear guard removed from the position. Kutuzov decided not to defend Vienna, but to save his army. On October 29, the Russians crossed the Danube at Krems, ahead of Mortier. The rearguard of Miloradovich destroyed the crossing under enemy fire.
Thus, Kutuzov cleared the right bank of the Danube, contrary to the orders of the Austrian Emperor, who had ordered him to defend the bridgehead at Krems at all costs. Kutuzov saved the army.
If Kutuzov had listened to the Austrians' instructions, the French could have already destroyed the Russian army twice: during a possible offensive on Munich and during the defense "at any cost" of the Vienna direction.
To be continued ...
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