The Battle of Straubing 19 April 1809
Background
This is a report on the fourth battle of the 1809 Danube CampaignSituation
Several days before the battle the 1st Armee Korps had crossed the Danube at Straubing with the intent of linking up with the rest of the Austrian Army south of Regensburg. They accomplished the crossing in good order, however as they were advancing as per their orders, they received reports that the 7th Corps D’Armee had outflanked them and seized Straubing a day after after they had departed.
This misfortune was compounded by the fact that 2nd Armee Korps was crossing the bridges at Regensburg with the intention to similarly link up with the Austrian Army. However, with the French now securely camped south of Regensburg, more troops advancing from the north west and now the 7th Corps D’Armee blocking the right bank of the Danube there was a severe danger of 2nd Armee Korps being destroyed.
Archduke Charles decided that he needed to recapture Straubing. He sent orders to the 1st and 2nd Armee Korps to converge on Straubing, and he additionally sent the 2nd Reserve Armee Korps to support them. His concern was not only for the safety of the 2nd Armee Korps, but also the 3rd and 4th Armee Korps who were about to enter into battle on the same day with the French south of Regensburg at Eckmuhl. If he failed to secure Straubing then he would be severely limited in his crossing points across the Isar River should he be forced to withdraw from the French.
Battlefield Map and Terrain
Straubing was located in a corner of the right bank of the River Danube. The Bavarians had been in place for a couple of days and its was suspected that they had fortified their positions.
A view of the battlefield looking from the South West to the north east.
Opposing Forces
The French comprised the 7th Corps D’Armee commanded by Le Febvre. His Corps was complete with its three Divisions and its Corps artillery, but less a Light Cavalry Brigade which had yet to rejoin the Corps. He had been reinforced by a Cuirassier Brigade.
The Austrian forces were made up of the 1st Armee Korps commanded by Bellegarde. They were due to arrive from the west about 0700hrs with their 1st and 2nd Divisions and the Corps Light Cavalry Regiments. Reports from the 3rd Division were that they were due to arrive around 0900hrs from the south west. Archduke Charles had promised support from the 2nd Reserve Armee Korps but the earliest it could arrive from the south with its two grenadier brigades and heavy cavalry brigades would be 1400hrs. Finally late in the day it was expected that the 2nd Armee Korps would arrive from the north west.
The Battle
The 1st (Bav) Division deployed protecting the north side of Straubing.
Bellegarde decided to exploit the covered approach from the west through the woods running west of Straubing to advance on, and engage, the Bavarians. By 1000hrs the Austrian’s were in a position to launch an attack against Siebein’s Bde. It was intended that two regiments, the 11th and 47th, would be committed, however the intervention of Von Zandt’s Light Cavalry Brigade forced the 47th to turn to face them. The 11th went in alone and although they took exceptionally heavy losses they fell back in reasonable order. Gotthardt’s Horse Battery severely punished the Austrian columns from the flank.
By 1130 the gap exposed by Siebein’s Brigade withdrawing was being closed as Le Febvre started to manoeuvre units laterally to fill the gap. Bellegarde seized this opportunity to regroup and reorganise his 1st and 2nd Divisions and consolidate in place. Meanwhile he would rely upon the Corps and Divisional artillery to inflict some punishment on the Bavarians.
At 1200hrs the 3rd Division had seized Feldkirchen. The Uhlans bought time for the artillery to deploy by attacking Preysing’s Cavalry Brigade and managed to throw them off the hill. 3rd Division were now committed to work their way around the Bavarian’s left flank.
A half hour later the 3rd Division had thrown the Bavarians back and the opportunity was now there to start the move around the enemy’s left flank.
Meanwhile the consolidation and reorganisation within the 1st and 2nd Divisions has been successfully achieved.
1330hrs the Uhlans are covering the deployment of the divisional artillery on the high ground. The infantry had, however failed to secure the opportunity to exploit their success as the Bavarians withdrew with great initiative before the Austrians could come into contact.
The 2nd Reserve Armee Korps arrived as planned at 1400 and were able to move forward with exceptional speed. They were committed between the two wings of the 1st Armee Korps, and were able to use the supporting fire from the 1st Armee Korps artillery in their advance . Their mission was to seize Alterhofen.
On the right the Jagers from 3rd Division had penetrated the woods to outflank the Bavarian line. However, due to poor planning and dire execution they remained in these woods for at least 90 minutes before they were able to extricate themselves and continue the attack!
With the support of 2nd Reserve Armee Korps on their right, at 1630 Bellegarde committed his corps to continue the attack. The 42nd Infantry Regiment, supported by the 47th followed up Vincenti’s Brigade as it withdrew. Infantry Regiment 17 was committed in column to attack Stengel’s Brigade, but it was unable to break through. A bold move from Ludwig saw him bring forward Rechburg’s Brigade on Stengel’s right. Bellegarde’s left flank was starting to look quite tenuous.
Meanwhile in 3rd Division’s sector the Jagers had closed on the Bavarian’s, with Infantry Regiment 35 in close support engaging the battery. Although they suffered from the fire they succeeded in capturing the battery, but the Jager’s and them were both thrown back by Becker’s Brigade.
In the centre the Grenadiers from the reserve are now about to cross the start-line to attack Alterhofen. Strong fire support is being provided from the 1st Armee Korps’s artillery.
1630hrs the 2nd Armee Korps has arrived and is deploying to attack the Bavarian right flank.
By 1700hrs the Austrian are looking to up the tempo. The 17th have attempted to engage again but were thrown back in disorder. The Grenadiers are recovering from disorder.
On the right the 3rd Division are regrouping from their failure to break through Becker.
As the sky darkens, with the onset of dusk, the 3rd Division have finally pushed back Becker and Preysing’s Cavalry. The grenadiers have failed to take Altenhofen and were thrown back by the defenders.
In 2nd Armee Korps attempt to close with the Bavarian right before it withdrew Rechburg’s Brigade have withdrawn to support their Corps artillery. While that same artillery severely punish Infantry Regiment 57. As the light failed the Bavarian’s withdrew into Straubing and then to the left bank of the Danube.
Outcome
The Bavarian’s fought hard and long to hold their position. They managed a skilful defence that caused loss to the Austrians. However, the Austrian’s had secured their objective of opening up the routes on the right bank of the Danube and the crossings over the Isar.
French Losses: KIA 186, WIA 714, MIA 3240
Austrian Losses: KIA 1492, WIA 5896, MIA 3240
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