Coat of Arms of the Duchy of Moravia
Crest Crest

Berichte den Kaiserlich-Königliche Österreichische Armee
Exultate Jubilatum, by an obscure Salzburg composer (Austrian Despatch)

Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold

An Austrian Army under the leadership of Tim Coakley has recorded a resounding major victory over the French usurper at Eckmuhl. For this first victory in his first combat the Ensign receives the Austrian Imperial Leopold Order for conspicuous bravery in the line of duty, which brings with it 15 points. His exciting battle report on how he did it can be read at the end of this despatch.

Due to the new points system for the Eckmuhl game and the corresponding increase in points necessary to achieve promotion the young Austrian Army has found itself with a lot of officers demoted. To assuage this there will be a new cluster of medals coming out for victories and other duties to boost morale.

Our Web pages are the best in the club due to the great efforts and artistic ability of Gavin Woods who once again is awarded 15 points for this hard work.

Tyrolian Mobilization Medal

A special mention too, for Gary McClellan who is our rep for the League Tourney and is also trying set up a "secret" Austrian Tavern once we've cracked the password problem. 15 points for his intiative on starting off these projects. Contact him to join in! Anyone who joins gains the Tyrolian Mobilization Medal.

5 points go to Bill Peters for training new recruits.


We have had an influx of new recruits and we welcome:

Austrian Heavy Cavalry 15mm

There are now 20 active officers in the Army.


Combat efficiency profiles of the 1809 Austrian Army:

(according to Scott Bowden and Charlie Tarbox)

The following relation is based on the Corps organisation at Wagram at the end of the 1809 Campaign and may be slightly changed from that of the Eckmuhl campaign as units and organisations were redistributed and reorganised.

The interesting fact about the Deutchmeister IR 4 which was considered as perhaps the finest of the infantry regiments was that all of its officers and many of the men were members of the Teutonic Order. The Inhaber or regt proprietor was also the head of the Teutonic Order at that time.

Corps Best Units in Corps
Advance Guard (Nordman) Deutchmeister IR4; Jagers; Hussars.
I Corps (Bellegarde) Erzherzog Rainer IR11; Jagers.
II Corps (Hohenzollern) Vincent Chevaulegers #4
III Corps (Kollowrat) Kaiser IR1.
IV Corps (Rosenberg)Erzherzog Karl IR3; Erzherzog Ferdinand Hussars #3.
V Corps (Reuss) Erzherzog Karl Uhlans #3.
VI Corps (Klenau) Klebek IR14; Jordis IR59; Warasdiner St George Grenz #6.
Grenadier Corps Puteani and Scovaud.
Cavalry Corps O'Reilly Chevaulegers #3; Kaiser Cuirassiers #1.
Army of John Erzherzog Josef Hussars #2; Alvinczy IR19.

Live up to their glory men!

Dermot Quigley
Austrian C-in-C


The Battle of Eckmuhl, April 21st, 1809

Three Miles West of Eckmuhl, near Paring.
Austrian Jaeger

Archduke Charles and three Korps of the Armee v. Osterreich are set to face French Marshal Davout in the afternoon of April 21st, 1809. The Austrian III, IV and I Reserve Korps, totaling about 60,000 men, have advanced from the East to meet the French and Bavarian forces along the ridge just East of the town of Paring. The Archduke has arranged the III Korps under Gen.Hhnzlm-Hchngn from the Kloster Berg to the South West at Aukt Berg. Gen Hhnzlm-Hchngn placed FM Vukassovich's light division on the left flank to screen the road leading East to Schierling. The three scattered divisions of General v.Rosenberg's IV Korps were to move in separate columns to attack the French left flank. Division Bartenstein would clear the woods North of Paring Ridge, Division Dedovich would march down the Dinzling-Paring Road, and FM Somarvia would attack into the French rear to cut Davout's lines of communication. The I Reserve Korps was to be held back as a reserve to break the French right as Somarvia closed the trap. Archduke Charles ordered all available artillery to form on the Kloster Berg opposite Paring ridge.

During the first two hours of the battle, Davout launched an infantry attack against the Austrian center but it was repulsed by the steady fire of the Austrian Grand Battery. Davout also clustered most of his cavalry on his right flank; a dangerous threat to the exposed Austrian light infantry. Just South of Dinzling, French GD Montbrun and a brigade of cavalry ran into the Austrian Neustadter Brigade and has been suffering heavy losses in a small canyon. 1,400 Austrian infantry, 900 cavalry and 12 guns have been lost. The ER.Fer.Hus.Regt#3 and Vncnt.Chvlgs.Regt#4 suffered heavy casualties but they pinned large numbers of French troops in place and drew attention from the weak left flank. French cavalry losses are even, but 3,000 infantry have fallen, mostly during the ill-fated attack in the center.

Austrian Uhlans Charging

Another hour has passed on the field at Eckmuhl. The Austrian center is holding solid and has even managed a counter attack that overran two French batteries. In the South, Kayser's brigade is facing a challenge from 8 regiments of heavy cavalry. The Austrians have taken the woods north of Kloster Berg at heavy cost and have formed a solid line linked to the positions on the hill top. Three fresh batteries have taken up positions on the hill, bringing the total to over 12 batteries defending the center. Further North, GD Montbrun and GB Jacquinot face imminent capture along with the remnants of the 1st and 12th Chas.a Chev. regiments. In turn, the Austrian ER Fer.HusRegt.#3 and Vncnt Chvlgs Regt #4 have lost their colors. In all, the result is a draw with 4000 French infantry and 2500 cavalry falling along with 24 guns. Austrian losses amount to 14 guns, 3000 footmen and 1600 cavalrymen.

It is after 4pm, and the sun is slowly setting but the battle rages on despite a short lull in combat. The French and Austrian centers seem satisfied to trade artillery fire and let the infantry lines sit things out. To the South, the mass of French cavalry has broken into two detachments with one heading North in support of another part of the line. Just in time for this move, lead elements of the Austrian 1st Reserve Korps are marching West just North of the marshes. They are set to attack the weakened French right flank. At the Northern end of the line, two Austrian brigades are engaged in the woods against a force of 3,000 Frenchmen including the 3/105 Ligne. 6,000 French infantry and 3,500 cavalry have fallen along with almost 40 cannon. GD Montbrun has been wounded and taken prisoner with GB Jacquinot. Austrian FM Somarvia has also been wounded and 4,000 Austrian infantry, 1,500 cavalry, and 20 guns have been lost. The battle is a minor Austrian victory with almost 4 hours left until dark.

Davout is surrounded! 5pm on the field at Eckmuhl and the French III Corps is in a desperate fight for survival. The Austrians have a major victory with 3 of the 4 objectives taken. The French lines of communication have been cut and the Austrian Army has started attacks all along the line. In the North, the combatants are evenly matched in the woods but the situation has deteriorated further down the line. The Austrian guns have pounded the French batteries on Paring ridge into dust; only 4 French guns remain in the sector to face 15 Austrian batteries that are bound to shift fire onto the French infantry lines. In the South, a fantastic cavalry charge by Hhnzlm.Cuir.Regt#8 overran two French batteries and scattered their infantry. This charge was supported by light infantry and a general attack by a brigade of Austrian regulars. This brigade captured GB Girard and has left the French with almost no formed units on this flank. They are holding with only about 6 battalions totaling only 2,000 men along with about 2,000 cavalry. These forces are about to be attacked by the Austrian I Reserve Korps including the mighty grenadiers of Rohan's Brigade. The situation is grim for the French but Marshal Davout has faced such odds before.

6 PM and dusk has settled in. GM Rottermund has been captured leading the ER Joh.Drag.Reg in a fierce cavalry battle against the French 10th and 11th Cuirassier Regiments. Despite the loss of their brigade commander and 38 of their comrades, the Austrian Dragoons defeated the French inflicting 137 casualties in return. Some remnants of GD Montbrun's cavalry have retaken Saalhapt after two attacks, sending the defending Austrian squadron to keep watch from a nearby hill. In the woods along the Dinzling-Paring Road, Dedovich's division has surrounded two French infantry battalions. So far all calls French surrendering to Austrians for surrender have been rebuffed with musket fire. In the center, GM Bieber's brigade has advanced a few hundred yards to rout out the French skirmish line from the gully at the base of Paring Ridge. In the South, Vukasovich's light division is regrouping and has earned a well needed rest. The cavalry of I Reserve Korps are now keeping the French heavies in check. Kayser's brigade continues to put pressure on the French left, paving the way for Rohan's Brigade to advance on Paring. 8,300 French infantry and 4,100 cavalry have fallen along with 57 guns. The lighter Austrian losses are 4,500 infantry, 2,100 cavalry and 20 guns.

Half past six in the evening, a white flag appears on paring ridge in the fading sunlight. The Armee v. Osterreich has won!

A great game and a fine learning experience for both Tony and me. I think I have finally gotten a better understanding of how to use extended line with the large Austrian battalions and how to site my guns. My hat is off to a good opponent what started in a tough situation.



Next Page
Return to Index