Battle of Wischau

Summary

The Battle of Wischau occurred on 25 November 1805 between the Russian and French armies. The conflict resulted in a minor Russian success. It followed the action at Hollabrun and Schöngrabern, and preceded the Battle of Austerlitz. The relatively easy Russian victory convinced the Third Coalition Allies that the French army would be easy to beat, having reached the end of their supply and communication lines and having suffered several losses in previous weeks of fighting.

Battle of Wischau
Part of the War of the Third Coalition

Lasalle, by Antoine-Jean Gros (1808)
Date25 November 1805
Location49°16′39″N 16°59′56″E / 49.27750°N 16.99889°E / 49.27750; 16.99889
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
France French Empire Russia Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Frédéric Henri Walther Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle Prince Pyotr Bagration
Strength
1,400 24,000
Casualties and losses
unclear, Imperial Eagle and Guidon (11th Dragoons) unclear
100km
62miles
Austerlitz
7
Battle of Austerlitz on 2 December 1805
6
5
Battle of Schöngrabern on 16 November 1805
4
Battle of Dürenstein on 11 November 1805
3
Battle of Mariazell on 8 November 1805
2
Battle of Amstetten on 5 November 1805
1
Battle of Lambach on 31 October 1805
  
Map
  current battle
  Napoleon in command
  Napoleon not in command

Orders of Battle edit

French forces edit

Total: 20 squadrons, 12 guns, approximately 1400 men.

11th Dragoons lost an Imperial Eagle and a guidon during the fight.

Russian forces edit

Advanced Guard

  • Lieutenant General Bagration commanding
    • Major Generals Dolgoruky, Ulanius, and Tschaplitz
      • 6th Jägers (3 battalions)
      • 9 battalions of the Infantry Regiments Alt-Ingermannland, Archangel, and Pskov
      • Leib Kür Regiment (4 squadrons)
      • Dragoon Regiment Twer (5 squadrons)
      • Dragoon Regiment St. Petersburg (5 squadrons)
      • Hussar Regiment Pavlograd (10 Squadrons
      • Hussar Regiment Mariupol (10 squadrons)
      • Cossacks (8 sotnia)
      • 24 guns

Total: 12 battalions, 35 squadrons, and 8 sotnias, 24 guns, approximately 12,000 men.

Sources edit

  • Digby Smith. The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Databook. London, Greenhill Books, 1998, p. 215.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Battle of Wischau at Wikimedia Commons