Battle of Wertingen

1805 Battle during the War of the Third Coalition

Battle of Wertingen

Part of the War of the Third Coalition

Bas-relief of the battle from the Column of the Grande Armée
| Date| 8 October 1805

|

Location|

Wertingen, present-day Germany

48°33′20″N 10°40′45″E﻿ / ﻿48.5556°N 10.6792°E﻿ / 48.5556; 10.6792
Result|  French victory
Belligerents
First French Empire|  Austrian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Joachim Murat
Jean Lannes|  Franz von Auffenberg
Units involved
Cavalry Reserve
V Corps|  Auffenberg's Corps
Strength
12,000|  5,500
Casualties and losses
319 killed or wounded|  400 killed or wounded
2,900 captured

* v
* t
* e

Ulm campaign

* Donauwörth
* Wertingen
* Günzburg
* Haslach-Jungingen
* Memmingen
* Elchingen
* Ulm
* Langenau
* Herbrechtingen
* Nordlingen
* Neresheim
* Trochtelfingen

* v
* t
* e

War of the Third Coalition

German campaign

* Bavaria
* Ulm campaign
* Donauwörth
* Wertingen
* Günzburg
* Haslach-Jungingen
* Memmingen
* Elchingen
* Ulm
* Mehrnbach
* Lambach
* Steyr
* Amstetten
* Mariazell
* Dürenstein
* Dornbirn
* Schöngrabern
* Hanover
* Wischau
* Austerlitz

Italian campaign

* Verona
* Caldiero
* Forano
* Caldiero pursuit
* Castelfranco Veneto

Invasion of Naples

* Gaeta
* Campo Tenese
* Maida
* Calabria
* Mileto

Trafalgar campaign

* Diamond Rock
* Cape Finisterre
* Trafalgar
* Cape Ortegal

Other battles

* Planned invasion of Britain
* Boulogne
* Blanc-Nez and Gris-Nez
* Anglo-Russian occupation of Naples
* Wonau and Stecken
* Lippa and St. Mathia
* Blaauwberg
* Atlantic campaign

War of the Third Coalition:
Ulm Campaign

50km
30miles

Ulm

current battle

Napoleon in command

Napoleon not in command

In the Battle of Wertingen (8 October 1805) Imperial French forces led by Marshals Joachim Murat and Jean Lannes attacked a small Austrian corps commanded by Feldmarschall-Leutnant Franz Xaver von Auffenberg. This action, the first battle of the Ulm Campaign, resulted in a clear French victory. Wertingen lies 28 kilometres (17 mi) northwest of Augsburg. The combat was fought during the War of the Third Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars.

## Background[edit]

Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had launched his 200,000-man Grand Army across the Rhine. This huge mass of maneuver wheeled to the south and crossed the Danube River to the east of (i.e., behind) General Karl Freiherr Mack von Leiberich's concentration at Ulm. Unaware of the force bearing down on him, Mack stayed in place as Napoleon's corps spread south across the Danube, slicing across his lines of communication with Vienna.

## Forces[edit]

Murat's advance guard included the heavy cavalry divisions of General of Division Louis Klein (16 squadrons of the 1st, 14th, 20th and 26th Dragoon Regiments) and General of Division Marc Antoine de Beaumont (18 squadrons of the 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 12th and 16th Dragoons), plus General of Brigade Antoine Lasalle's light cavalry brigade (8 squadrons of 9th and 10th Hussars), a total of 42 squadrons. These were supported by eight battalions of General of Division Nicolas Oudinot's Grenadier division and three battalions of the 28th Light Infantry Regiment.

Auffenberg's command included 26 battalions, 20 cavalry squadrons and 24 guns. Feldmarschall-Leutnant Maximilien de Baillet's division included Infantry Regiments Kaunitz Nr. 20, Archduke Ludwig Nr. 8, Franjo Jelačić Nr. 62, a brigade of four grenadier battalions, Cuirassier Regiment Albert Nr. 3 and Chevau-léger Regiment Rosenberg Nr. 6. Feldmarschall-Leutnant Prince Friedrich Franz Xaver of Hohenzollern-Hechingen's division was made up of Infantry Regiments Spork Nr. 25, Wurttemberg Nr. 38, Reuss-Greitz Nr. 55, Stuart Nr. 18, Hussar Regiment Palatine Nr. 12 and Chevau-léger Regiment Latour Nr. 4.[1]

## Battle[edit]

La bataille de Wertingen by E. L. Lami

Apparently because his troops were surprised, Auffenberg seems to have only brought nine battalions and one squadron,[2] about 5,500 men, into action. There are conflicting accounts. One historian talks about individual battalions being broken by cavalry or surrounded and forced to surrender.[1] Another writer says that Austrian grenadiers formed in a massive square which resisted cavalry charges until the French brought up Oudinot's grenadiers.[3]

French losses are stated as 319 killed and wounded.[4] The Austrians suffered 400 killed and wounded, plus 2,900 men and 6 cannons captured.[1] One historian says 2,000 Austrians were captured.[2] Cut off from Vienna, the Austrians retreated westward toward their base at Ulm.

## Commentary[edit]

One historian remarks, "It is not clear why ... Mack had sent this small force to such an isolated position." He added, "His continual reorganization of the troops on the battlefield sowed confusion and demoralization."[1]

## References[edit]

* Bowden, Scott, "Napoleon and Austerlitz", Chicago, The Emperor's Press, 1997, ISBN 0-9626655-7-6
* Chandler, David. Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars. New York: Macmillan, 1979. ISBN 0-02-523670-9
* Emmert, H. D. Wargamers Digest Magazine. "A History of Broken Squares 1798-1915," January 1979.
* Smith, Digby. The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill, 1998. ISBN 1-85367-276-9

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Smith, p 203
2. ^ a b Chandler, p 489
3. ^ Emmert, p 14
4. ^ Bowden, Scott (1997). Napoleon and Austerlitz. Chicago: The Emperor's Press. p. 185\. ISBN 0-9626655-7-6.

## External links[edit]

* Wertingen 1805, Obscure Battles
* Napoleon guide
* Media related to Battle of Wertingen at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Battle of Cape Finisterre (1805) | Napoleonic Wars
Battle of Wertingen  | Succeeded by
Battle of Haslach-Jungingen

|
|

* v
* t
* e

Napoleonic Wars

* Third Coalition
* Fourth Coalition
* Peninsular War
* Fifth Coalition
* French Invasion of Russia
* Sixth Coalition
* Seventh Coalition

Belli-
gerents|

| France,
client states
and allies|

* France
* Polish Legions
* Italy
* Holland
* Etruria
* Swiss Confederation
* Naples
* Confederation of the Rhine
* Bavaria
* Saxony
* Westphalia
* Württemberg
* Denmark–Norway
* Ottoman Empire
* Persia
* Spain

|

Coalition
forces|

* United Kingdom
* Austria
* Russia
* Prussia
* Spain
* Portugal
* Sicily
* Papal States
* Ottoman Empire
* Persia
* Sardinia
* Sweden
* Netherlands
* Brunswick
* Hanover
* Nassau
* French Royalists

Major
battles|

| Prelude|

* French Revolution
* First Coalition
* Second Coalition
* 18 Brumaire
* Planned invasion of the United Kingdom
* Duc d'Enghien Execution
* Coronation of Napoleon

|

1805|

* Diamond Rock
* Cape Finisterre
* Wertingen
* Günzburg
* Haslach-Jungingen
* Elchingen
* Ulm
* Verona
* Trafalgar
* Caldiero
* Cape Ortegal
* Amstetten
* Dürenstein
* Schöngrabern
* Austerlitz

1806|

* Gaeta
* Campo Tenese
* Maida
* Schleiz
* Saalfeld
* Jena–Auerstedt
* Erfurt
* Halle
* Magdeburg
* Prenzlau
* Pasewalk
* Stettin
* Waren-Nossentin
* Lübeck
* Greater Poland uprising
* Hamelin
* Czarnowo
* Golymin
* Pułtusk

1807|

* Mohrungen
* Eylau
* Ostrołęka
* Kolberg
* Danzig
* Stralsund I
* Mileto
* Guttstadt-Deppen
* Heilsberg
* Friedland
* Stralsund II
* Copenhagen
* Invasion of Portugal

1808|

* Dos de Mayo
* Bruch
* Rosily Squadron
* Cabezón
* 1st Zaragoza
* Valencia
* Medina de Rioseco
* Bailén
* Roliça
* Vimeiro
* Zornoza
* Valmaseda
* Burgos
* Espinosa
* Tudela
* Somosierra
* 2nd Zaragoza
* Sahagún
* Benavente

1809|

* Castellón
* Uclés
* Corunna
* Valls
* Tyrolean Rebellion
* Villafranca
* Yevenes/Yébenes
* Ciudad Real
* 1st Porto
* Medellín
* Bergisel
* Sacile
* Teugen-Hausen
* Raszyn
* Abensberg
* Landshut
* Eckmühl
* Ratisbon
* Neumarkt-Sankt Veit
* Dalmatian Campaign
* Ebelsberg
* Girona
* Piave River
* Grijó
* 2nd Porto
* Wörgl
* Tarvis
* Aspern-Essling
* Alcañiz
* Sankt Michael
* Stralsund
* Raab
* María
* Graz
* Wagram
* Korneuburg
* Stockerau
* Gefrees
* Hollabrunn
* Schöngrabern
* Armistice of Znaim
* Talavera
* Walcheren Campaign
* Ölper
* Almonacid
* Tamames
* Ocaña
* Alba de Tormes

1810|

* Cádiz
* Astorga
* Ciudad Rodrigo
* Barquilla
* Côa
* Almeida
* Bussaco

1811|

* Gebora
* Barrosa
* Pombal
* Redinha
* Casal Novo
* Campo Maior
* Sabugal
* Almeida
* Fuentes de Oñoro
* Tarragona
* Albuera
* Usagre
* Saguntum
* Arroyo dos Molinos
* Valencia

1812|

* Ciudad Rodrigo
* Badajoz
* Villagarcia
* Almaraz
* Maguilla
* Mir
* Ekau
* Salamanca
* García Hernández
* Saltanovka
* Ostrovno
* Vitebsk
* Kobryn
* Klyastitsy
* Majadahonda
* Gorodechno
* Smolensk
* 1st Polotsk
* Valutino
* Mesoten
* Borodino
* Moscow
* Burgos
* Tarutino
* 2nd Polotsk
* Venta del Pozo
* Maloyaroslavets
* Chashniki
* Vyazma
* Smoliani
* Krasnoi
* Berezina

1813|

* Castalla
* Lützen
* Bautzen
* Tarragona
* Luckau
* Vitoria
* San Sebastián
* Pyrenees
* Sorauren
* Großbeeren
* Katzbach
* Dresden
* 1st Kulm
* San Marcial
* Dennewitz
* 2nd Kulm
* Göhrde
* Roßlau
* Wartenburg
* Bidassoa
* Leipzig
* Hanau
* Nivelle
* Bornhöved
* Sehested

1814|

* Brienne
* La Rothière
* Mincio River
* Champaubert
* Montmirail
* Château-Thierry
* Vauchamps
* Garris
* Mormant
* Montereau
* Orthez
* Bar-sur-Aube
* Laon
* Reims
* Craonne
* Arcis-sur-Aube
* Fère-Champenoise
* Saint-Dizier
* Montmartre
* Paris
* Toulouse
* Bayonne

1815|

* Panaro
* Occhiobello
* Carpi
* Casaglia
* Ronco
* Cesenatico
* Pesaro
* Scapezzano
* Tolentino
* Ancona
* Castel di Sangro
* San Germano
* Gaeta
* Quatre Bras
* Ligny
* Waterloo
* Wavre
* Rocheserviere
* La Suffel
* Rocquencourt
* Issy

Info|

| French and ally
military and
political leaders|

* Napoleon
* Louis-Alexandre Berthier
* Joachim Murat
* Louis-Nicolas Davout
* Jean Lannes
* Auguste de Marmont
* André Masséna
* Michel Ney
* Jean-de-Dieu Soult
* Marshal Victor
* Jean-Baptiste Bessières
* Pierre-Charles Villeneuve
* Joseph I
* Louis Bonaparte
* Jérôme Bonaparte
* Prince Poniatowski
* Prince Eugène
* Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria
* Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
* Frederick I of Württemberg
* Frederick VI of Denmark

|

Coalition
military and
political leaders|

* Duke of Wellington
* Rowland Hill
* John Moore
* Horatio Nelson
* Thomas Cochrane
* Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
* Manuel Lapeña
* Archduke Charles
* Prince von Schwarzenberg
* Archduke John of Austria
* Alexander I of Russia
* Mikhail Kutuzov
* Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly
* Count Bennigsen
* Pyotr Bagration
* Peter Wittgenstein
* Frederick William III of Prussia
* Gebhard von Blücher
* Duke of Brunswick
* Prince of Hohenlohe
* Ferdinand VII of Spain
* Miguel de Álava
* Maria I of Portugal
* Prince Regent John of Portugal
* Count of Feira
* William, Prince of Orange
* Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies
* Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
* Prince Charles John of Sweden
* Louis XVIII

Related
conflicts|

* Anglo-Russian War
* Anglo-Spanish War
* Anglo-Swedish War
* Anglo-Turkish War
* Anglo-Danish War
* Gunboat War
* Dano-Swedish War
* Russo-Swedish War (Finnish War)
* Franco-Swedish War (Pomeranian War)
* Russo-Persian War
* Russo-Turkish War
* Spanish American wars of independence
* Swedish–Norwegian War
* War of 1812

Treaties|

* Campo Formio
* Lunéville
* Amiens
* Artlenburg
* Pressburg
* Finckenstein
* Tilsit
* Cintra
* Schönbrunn
* Paris (1810)
* Paris (February 1812)
* Paris (March 1812)
* Paris (1814)
* Tauroggen
* Ried
* Chaumont
* Kiel
* Mantua
* Casalanza
* Fontainebleau (1814)
* Paris (1815)

Miscellaneous|

* Bibliography
* Bourbon Restoration
* Casualties
* Congress of Erfurt
* Continental System
* Conference of Dresden
* England expects that every man will do his duty
* Films
* Grande Armée
* Uniforms
* Longwood House
* Types of military

* France portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template