Stockach 1799

The battle of Stockach, 25 March 1799

[archival documents about Austrian and French tactics] 1)

by Roland Kessinger

I
An example of Austrian Dragoons fighting dismounted is presented in the after action report of Generalfeldwachtmeister Friedrich Erbprinz zu Hessen-Homburg to FML Baron von Kospoth (signed Ostrach, 4th April 1799) about the combat in broken terrain around Langenstein Castle. Hessen-Homburg's brigade was under the command of FML Kospoth during the battle of Stockach. The brigade was formed by the 11th Regiment Light Dragoons "Latour" only 2):

"(...) Bey Ausgang aus dem Walde, ließ ich auf beyden Seiten des Weeges die 2te Majors Escadron [of the 11. Light Dragoons "Latour"] zur Aufnahme des Herrn Obristen aufmarschiren; und der Herr Rittmeister v Saint Quentin ließ von selbem die Hälfte absitzen, stellte sich auf ihre Spitze, rückte in den Wald, besetzte die lincke Flanque zur Deckung der Arriergarde, und hat sich dabei besonders hervorgethan. (...) Die 2 Canonen die der Herr Obriste auf einer nähern Höhe hatte aufpflanzen lassen, unterstüzten mit Kartäschen die Cavallerie so, daß der Feind zurücklief, und von der Cavallerie sowohl zu Fuß als zu Pferd verfolgt, viele zusammengehauen, und gefangen gemacht wurden. (...)"

"(...) When exeting the forest, I advanced the 2nd (Major's) squadron to both sides of the road to take up [the troops of the] the colonel. Captain von Saint Quentin ordered half of the men to dismount, put himself in front and moved into the forest, occupying the left flank to cover the rear guard, and excelled himself during this. (...) Both cannon which the colonel had deployed on a heigth near by, supported the cavalry with grapeshot in such a way, that the enemy retreated, pursued by the cavalry, dismounted and mounted as well. Many were cut down, and taken prisoner. (...)"

II
An example of Austrian grenadiers fighting as skirmishers is presented in the after action report of FML Vincenz Kollowrath to Archduke Charles (signed Emmingen ob Eck, 31st March 1799). FML Kollowrat commanded the Reserve during the battle of Stockach. The grenadiers were a part of the reserve at that day 3):

"(...) Ich ließ die Gr[enadier] Batallions Tegethoff und Bojakofski mit klingendem Spiel gegen den Feind rücken, und da ich gleich auf der ersten Höhe feindliche Blänkler fand, ließ ich ebenfalls eine halbe Compagnie als Blänkler vorücken den Rest des Batallions Tegethoff en front folgen, welches auch dem Feind biß aus den Waldungen zurükjagte, dieses Batallion ist mit aller Tapferkeit und Bravour vorgerüket. (...)"

"(...) I ordered the grenadier battalions Tegethoff and Bojakowsky to advance against the enemy with their music playing. Because I met enemy skirmishers immediately on the first heigth, I ordered a half company to deploy in skirmisher order, followed by the remainder of the Tegethoff battalion in close order. They dislodged the enemy out of the woods; this battalion advanced bravely and energetic. (...)"

III
Artillery gunners were a main target for French skirmishers throughout the Revolutionary Wars. The French light infantry still used this tactic during the battle of Stockach as is presented in the after action report of Generalfeldwachtmeister Maximilian Graf von Merveldt to Archduke Charles (signed Tuttlingen, 30th March 1799). Merveldt commanded part of the Austrian advance guard fighting around Liptingen during the battle 4):

"(...) Die feindlichen Tirailleurs kamen in den Wald, feuerten der sich zurükziehenden Cavallerie in die Flanque und Rücken, blessirten viele Artilleristen der Cavallerie Batterie, worauf selbe die Anhöhe verließen, und auf der Chausée davon fuhren. (...)"

"(...) The enemy skirmishers entered the forest, and fired the retreating cavalry in the flank and in the back. Many artillerymen of the cavalry battery were wounded, after which these left the heigth and retreated along the road. (...)"

IV
The battle of Ostrach (21st March 1799) was fought in broken terrain. During the heavy fights in the forests around Ostrach the Austrians used their line infantry as skirmishers, too. This is noticed in the after action report of FML Baillet to Archeduke Charles
(signed Spöck, 21st March 1799).

"(...) ich unterlasse daher nicht Euer königl Hoheit den Bericht zu erstatten daß 3 Bat Lacy & 2 Batt von Schröder bereits in Lager welches links an der Strasse so von Ostrach nach Foulendorf gehet ist, eingetroffen, das 3te Bat von Schröder aber welches zu blänqueln in Wald verwendet annoch zerstreut & erst sehr spät eintreffen wird - ich habe mein Quartier in dem ersten Haus zu Specht [heute: 'Spöck'] genommen."

"(...) I will not refrain from informing Your Royal Higness that 3 battalions Lacy & 2 battalions Von Schröder already have arrived in the encampment left of the road from Ostrach to Foulendorf; the 3rd battalion Von Schröder however, which was used for skirmishing inside the forest, is still dispersed and will arrive late - my quarters are inside the first house in Specht ['Spöck' nowedays]"

V
It is stated by many authors that Austrian officers showed no initiative, and only followed orders of supreme command. As is also shown in other pieces on this web site, the following also gives an example that this was in fact not the case. The example is drawn from the after action report (battle of Stockach 25th March 1799) of FML Prinz Alexander von Württemberg (signed Singen, 30rd March 1799):

"Vermög Weisung des Herrn Obrist von Duka von Generalquartiermeisterstaab wurde ich auf Befehl Sr königl Hoheit [Erzherzog Karl] angewisen 4 Escadron von Anspach [Kürassierregiment Nr. 11 Ansbach] in Laager von Espelsingen [Espasingen] den Herrn Generalen von Mylius zum soutien seiner Infanterie zu überlassen: Mit dem Regiment E: H: Franz Mayland Cuirassier [Kürassierregiment Nr. 2 Erzherzog Franz d’Este] aber, erhielte ich dem Befehl eine Stellung zwischen Dettwang [Deutwang] und Stokach [Stockach] zu nehmen, welches alsobald erfolgte.

Gegen 12 Uhr Mittags vermuthete ich aus dem starken Feuer rechts, daß die Attaque des Feindes auf unseren äußersten rechten Flügel einen guten Fortgang haben müßte. Um dieses zu erfahren schikte ich alsobald Patrouillen über den Wald bis gegen Ursol [Ursaul] und Zotnick [Zoznegg] e:c: [etc] zu meinen Erstaunen fanden diese die Ortschaften Millingen [Mühlingen] und Mainwangen schon von dem Feinde besetzt. Ich faßte alsobald den Endschluß den Feind es möge kosten was es wolle aus diesen Ortschaften zu vertreiben, damit es solchen nicht gelingen könnte bis zu den Artilleriereserve zu gelangen, welche nicht weit von Tutwangen [Deutwang] zum theil aufgefahren stand. – (...)"

"Instructed by Colonel von Duka of the General Quartermaster Staff, by order of His Royal Highness [Archduke Carl], I was assigned to leave 4 squadrons of the Kürassierregiment Nr. 11 ‘Ansbach’ in the camp of Espasingen, to act as supports for the infantry of General von Mylius. With the Kürassierregiment Nr. 2 ‘Erzherzog Franz d’Este’ however, I was ordered to take up position between Deutwang and Stockach, which order I followed immediately.

At about 12 o’clock noon, I suspected because of the heavy fire to my right, that the enemy attack on our far right wing did make good progress. To ascertain this, I dispatched patrols through the forest to Ursaul, and Zozneck, etc. To my surprise, these found the villages Mühlingen and Mainwangen already occupied by the enemy. I immediately took the decision to throw the enemy out of these villages again at any cost, to prevent them reaching the artillery reserve, which was partially positioned not far from Deutwang. (...)"

Sources:
The documents mentioned in I, II, III, and V, are from: Österreichisches Staatsarchiv - Kriegsarchiv, Vienna; Alte Feldakten, Deutschland 1799/3/225;

The document mentioned in IV, is from: Österreichisches Staatsarchiv - Kriegsarchiv, Vienna; Alte Feldakten - Deutschland 1799/3/179

Footnotes:
1) For a detailed account of the battle of Stockach by Roland Kessinger, see the magazine 'First Empire' no. 67 (Nov/Dec 2002), and no. 69 (Mar/Apr 2003).
2) This action is described in 'First Empire' nr. 67, page 16.
3) This action is described in 'First Empire' nr. 67, page 20.
4) This action is described in 'First Empire' nr. 67, page 18.