NSWC 1805 BATTLEFIELD REPORTS

A Report in the Vienna Chronicle on the action at Padua, Italy, 14 October 1805.

By the General commanding 5^th Column, General of Cavalry Heinrich von Bellegarde.

My column had been deployed in and around Padua since September watching and waiting for any sign of movement by the French from the direction of Mantua.

The 8^th Column of Feldmarschalleutnant Paul von Davidovich was in support at Venice.

The 4^th Column was positioned opposite Vencia with the 6^th Column in support.

On the 12^th October light cavalry under Oberst Ludwig Graf Wallmoden-Gimborn made contact with advance cavalry of the French VIII Corps of Marshal Massena.

By the 13^th October Marshal Massena was in position to attack Padua on the 14^th October, however the Archduke (Charles) had ordered the 5^th Column to attack from Padua and the 8^th Column to cross the Brenta river in support (half of this column had already deployed from Venice with the rest arriving by the evening of the 14^th).

The French VIII Corps attacked the 5^th Column on the 14^th, the 8^th Column’s 8^th Cavalry and 15^th Infantry deployed in Padua with the 7^th Cavalry and 16^th Infantry to cross during the day.  I deployed the 5^th Column in depth from the centre to the right flank intending to over throw the French left flank and roll up their position.

From the opening solvo’s from the French batteries things did not go well on the right flank.

The 1st Battalion Erzherzog Ferdinand Hussar Regiment was over thrown by French cuirassiers as was the 2nd Battalion Erzherzog Ferdinand Hussar Regiment, together with the Erzherzog Karl Uhlan Regiment, the French cuirassiers with some Hussars saw off these regiments but were in turn forced to withdraw.

While this battle was taking place on the right the Austrian centre was pressing home it's attack against the French artillery.  The 1st and 2nd   Battalions of the 3rd Oguliner Grenz Regiment suffered over 400 casualties and the Levenehr Dragoon Regiment also lost over 500 men but both regiments with the support of the 1st Battalion 30th Prinz de Ligne Infantry  Regiment and the Hohenlohe Cheavauxleger Regiment over run all the French batties in the centre.

On the Austrian left at Padua the 8th Column was pushing through the town under constant fire from 3 French batteries.  The Ansbach Kuirassier Regiment, Erzherzog Joseph Hussar Regiment, 26th Neugebauer Infantry Regiment and the 31st Beniowsky Infantry Regiments all attacked the and took or routed all the French batteries and their supporting infantry.

The day ended with the French right and centre in rout or withdrawing and their left under growing pressure from our right flank.

The Archduke was determined to keep the pressure the VIII Corps on the next day.

While this was going on the 4th Column was crossing the Brenta river into Vicenza as the French IX Corps moved south-west.  The 6th Column moved into position to support the 4th Column.

NSWC Battlefield Reports

A Report in the Paris Gazette on an action at Canatarras, Spain, 8 May 1809.

By the General commanding, Oudinot.

Acting on information received from General Chastel regarding a enemy force ranging in size from a brigade to a Division that was approaching Cuidad Rodrigo from the Banos Pass. Elements of IV Corps that had just invested the fortress of Cuidad Rodrigo were sent to the little village of Canatarras on the Cuidad Rodrigo-Banos Pass road to prevent the enemy disrupting the siege preparations of the Army of Portugal.

The Brigade of General Scheeler deployed to the south and east of Canatarras awaiting the arrival of the enemy brigade.

The enemy (Portuguese under the command of General Wilson) appeared and deployed shortly before 1pm.

General Marisy’s cavalry of III Cavalry Corps then deployed on the enemies right flank. The Portuguese were engaged from 1pm by the artillery and by 2pmm until 5.30pm by the infantry and cavalry.

By 5.30pm the enemy was defeated and the siege works at Cuidad Rodrigo could continue un-molested. The enemy fled the battlefield, with the brigades of Generals Frere’s and Marisy just beginning to engage the enemy.

Two Portuguese infantry battalions were all but destroyed; one was swept from the field and lost 200 men as prisoners. One gun from the Portuguese horse artillery was destroyed and the other gun captured with all the batteries crew either dead or captured.

The enemy baggage and a number of wounded were captured as they were unable to remove their wounded from the field of battle and their baggage train moved to slow.