The 1809 War with Austria: the "Thunder on the Danube" Archives

The Austrian Hauptarmee in Late March

Edited by Jack Gill

This additional information on Austrian initial forces is drawn from a summary report dated 20 January 1810. As it is a summary and dated much later than the war (unlike the corps records in the printed volume), in many cases it does not coincide with the official history, especially as regards strength figures. I therefore elected to present the order of battle and strengths from Krieg 1809 in the published work as these data represent the thorough researches conducted by the team that assembled the official history; furthermore, I also used more contemporaneous archival sources where available. Recognising the discrepancies, I present the figures below for those who might find this information useful as a starting point for regimental level strengths at the start of the war. In cases where the January 1810 data do not seem to account for detachments or other missing units, I have placed brackets [] around the strengths. Note that for ease of comparison I have maintained the actual order of battle for each corps in this table, but the January 1810 source document shows the notional corps structures with all units at full strengths.[1]

The Archduke Charles of Austria

I Corps: GdK Bellegarde[2]
		bns / sqdns	present under arms
Staff Dragoons (one wing)		-	36
Staff Infantry (one company)		-	184
1st Pioneer Division (two companies)		-	351
Advance Guard: FML Graf Fresnel
Brigade: GM Hardegg
	1st Jäger Battalion	1	968
	2nd Jäger Battalion	1	852
	4th Jäger Battalion	1	803
	Schwarzenberg Uhlans No. 2	4	(see below)
	1 x 6-pounder battery (nonstandard: 6 x 6-pounders, one howitzer)
Brigade: GM Wintzingerode
	3rd Jäger Battalion	1	964
	Erzherzog Johann Infantry Regiment No. 35	3	3,745
	Blankenstein Hussars No. 6	2	(see below)
	1 x 6-pounder battery (nonstandard: 6 x 6-pounders, one howitzer)

Division: FML von Ulm
Brigade: GM von Wacquant
	Erzherzog Rainer Infantry Regiment No. 11	3	3,550
	Vogelsang Infantry Regiment No. 47	3	3,556
	1 x 6-pounder battery

Division: FML von Vogelsang
Brigade: GM von Henneberg
	Reuss-Plauen Infantry Regiment No. 17	3	3,719
	Kolowrat Infantry Regiment No. 36	3	3,632
	1 x 6-pounder battery
Brigade: GM Wartensleben
	Blankenstein Hussars No. 6	6	(1,150 total)

Reserve: GM Nostitz
	Anton Mittrowsky Infantry Regiment No. 10	2	[3,473]*
	Erbach Infantry Regiment No. 42	2	[3,608]*
	4th Erzherzog Karl Legion	1	(in formation)
	Schwarzenberg Uhlans No. 2	2	(1,120 total)**
	1 x 3-pounder brigade battery
Artillery Reserve:		-	858
	2 x 12-pounder position batteries
	1 x 6-pounder position battery
	1 x cavalry battery

Infantry: 28,470

Subtracting one-third each for the missing battalions of A. Mittrowsky and Erbach would give a total infantry strength of 26,111 compared to Krieg 1809: 23,600.

Cavalry: 2,270

Subtracting 130 men each for the missing squadrons of Schwarzenberg would give a total cavalry strength of 2,010; very close to Krieg 1809: 2,100.

Guns: 62

* Strength for all three battalions (one battalion of each regiment was detached in Bohemia).

** Two squadrons were detached in Bohemia.

II Corps: FZM Kolowrat-Krakowsky[3]
		bns / sqdns	present under arms
Staff Dragoons (one wing)		-	56
Staff Infantry (one company)		-	223
2nd Pioneer Division		-	309

Advance Guard: FML Klenau
	7th Jäger Battalion	1	501[4]
	Infantry Regiment No. 25 (formerly Zedtwitz)	3	3,641
	Merveldt Uhlans No. 1	3	(see below)
	Riesch Dragoons No. 6	6	753
	1 x cavalry battery
	1/2 pioneer company	-	(included above)
Brigade: GM Crenneville
	8th Jäger Battalion	1	838
	2nd Erzherzog Karl Legion	1	889
	Merveldt Uhlans No. 1	5	(1,301 total)
	1 x cavalry battery

Division: FML von Brady
1/2 pioneer company			(included above)
Brigade: GM Buresch von Greiffenbach
	Zach Infantry Regiment No. 15	3	3,302
	Josef Colloredo Infantry Regiment No. 57	2	[3,643]*
	1 x 6-pounder brigade battery
Brigade: GM von Wied-Runkel
	Infantry Regiment No. 18 (formerly Stuart)	2	[3,699]*
Cavalry Brigade: GM Rottermund (attached)
	Erzherzog Johann Dragoons No. 1	3	(see below)

Division: FML Weber von Treuenfels
Brigade: GM Fölseis
	Frelich Infantry Regiment No. 28	3	3,617
	Froon Infantry Regiment No. 54	3	3,624
	Erzherzog Johann Dragoons No. 1	3	(748 total)
	1 x 6-pounder brigade battery
Artillery Reserve:		-	994
	2 x 12-pounder Position Batteries
	1 and 1/2 6-pounder position batteries
	1 x 6-pounder brigade battery
	1 x 3-pounder brigade battery

Infantry: 23,754

Subtracting approximately 1,200 each for III/Stuart and III/J. Colloredo gives 21,419, close to the 20,811 (for 6 April) as published in the book.

Cavalry: 2,802 as compared to 2,610 (as of 6 April) in the book.

Guns: 65

* Strength for all three battalions (one battalion of each regiment was detached).

III Corps: FML Hohenzollern-Hechingen[5]
		bns / sqdns	present under arms
Staff Dragoons (one wing)		-	33
Staff Infantry (one company)		-	166
3rd Pioneer Division		-	301
Advance Guard: FML von Vukassovich
Brigade: GM Moritz Liechtenstein
	1st Erzherzog Karl Legion	1/2	[1,118]**
	Erzherzog Ferdinand Hussars No. 3	4	(see below)
	1 x cavalry battery
Brigade: GM Pfanzelter
	Peterwardein Grenz Infantry Regiment No. 9	2	2,378

Division: FML Lusignan
Brigade: GM von Kayser
	Schröder Infantry Regiment No. 7	3*	[3,408]
	Wenzel Colloredo Infantry Regiment No. 56	3*	[3,038]
Brigade: GM Thierry
	Kaiser Infantry Regiment No. 1	3*	[3,023]
	Lindenau Infantry Regiment No. 29	3*	[3,348]

Division: FML St. Julien
Brigade: GM Alois Liechtenstein
	Manfredini Infantry Regiment No. 12	3*	[3,142]
	Würzburg Infantry Regiment No. 23	2	[2,426]§
Brigade: GM von Bieber
	Kaunitz Infantry Regiment No. 20	3*	[2,487]
	Württemberg Infantry Regiment No. 38	2	[2,941]§
	Erzherzog Ferdinand Hussars No. 3	4	(1,067 total)
Artillery:		-	1,356
	3 x 12-pounder position batteries
	3 x 6-pounder position batteries
	4 x 6-pounder brigade batteries
	2 x 3-pounder brigade batteries
	1 x cavalry battery

Infantry: 27,309 as compared to 22,679 (as of 16 April) in the book.

Cavalry: 1,067 as compared to 1,048 (as of 16 April) in the book.

Guns: 96

* Figures gives full strengths, but the third battalions of these regiments only had four companies at the start of the war.

** Figure gives full strength, but only half of 1st Erzherzog Karl Legion was present (498 men) on 10 April.

§ Figures gives full strengths, but third battalions of Würzburg and Württemberg were still en route to the army.

Strength given for ‘missing’ EH Ferdinand Hussars No. 3: 8 squadrons 1,067 men

IV Corps: FML von Rosenberg[6]
		bns / sqdns	present under arms
Staff Dragoons (one wing)			[not yet formed]
Staff Infantry (one company)		-	162
4th Pioneer Division		-	337
Advance Guard: GM von Stutterheim
	Erzherzog Ludwig Infantry Regiment No. 8	3	2,638
	Stipsicz Hussars No. 10	4	(see below)
	1 x cavalry battery

Division: FML Somariva
Brigade: GM Neustädter
	Czartoryski Infantry Regiment No. 9	2	[3,174]§
	Reuss-Greitz Infantry Regiment No. 55	2	[3,221]§
	Stipsicz Hussars, No. 10	3	(1,024 total)**
	Vincent Chevaulegers, No. 4	8	1,137

Division: FML Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein
Brigade: GM von Riese
	Koburg Infantry Regiment No. 22	3*	[2,803]
	Bellegarde Infantry Regiment No. 44	2	[2,583]§
	Chasteler Infantry Regiment No. 46	2	[3,259]§
Brigade: GM Vécsey
	5th Jäger Battalion	1	880
	6th Jäger Battalion	1	385
	Rohan Infantry Regiment No. 21	3	3,641
	Klenau Chevaulegers No. 5	8	1,299
Artillery:		-	1,124
	2 x 12-pounder position batteries
	1 x 6-pounder position battery
	3 x 6-pounder brigade batteries
	1 x 3-pounder brigade battery
	1 x cavalry battery

Infantry: 22,584 as compared to 18,029 (from Krieg 1809).

Cavalry: 3,460 as compared to 3,162 (from Krieg 1809).

Guns: 62

* III/Koburg infantry only had four companies at the start of the war.

** One squadron detached.

§ Figures gives full strengths, but third battalions were still en route to the army.

Strengths given for ‘missing’ units:

	bns / sqdns	present under arms
J. Mittrowsky Infantry Regiment No. 40	3	2,763
Deutsch-Banat Grenz Infantry Regiment No. 12	2	2,642
Wallisch-Illyria Grenz Infantry Regiment No. 13	2	2,442

V Corps: FML Archduke Ludwig[7]
		bns / sqdns	present under arms
Staff Dragoons (one wing)			[not yet formed]
Staff Infantry (one company)			104
5th Pioneer Division			236
Advance Guard: GM Radetzky
	Gradiska Grenz Infantry Regiment No. 8	2	2,352
	Erzherzog Karl Uhlans No. 3	2	(see below)
	Kienmayer Hussars No. 8	2	(see below)
	Pioneers		(included above)
	1 x cavalry battery

Division: FML von Lindenau
Brigade: GM von Mayer
	Erzherzog Karl Infantry Regiment No. 3	3	2,904
	Stain Infantry Regiment No. 50	2	[2,633]§
Brigade: Oberst Hessen-Homburg
	Hiller Infantry Regiment No. 2	3	2,814
	Sztaray Infantry Regiment No. 33	3	2,599

Division: FML Reuss-Plauen
Brigade: GM von Bianchi
	Duka Infantry Regiment No. 39	3	1,937
	Gyulai Infantry Regiment No. 60	3	2,391
Brigade: Oberst Fröhauff
	Beaulieu Infantry Regiment No. 58	2	[2,087]§

Division: FML von Schustekh
Brigade: GM Mesko de Felsö-Kubinyi
	Brod Grenz Infantry Regiment No. 7	2	2,462
	Erzherzog Karl Uhlans No. 3	6	(1,114 total)
	Kienmayer Hussars No. 8	6	(1,104 total)
Artillery:		-	921
	2 x 12-pounder position batteries
	2 x 6-pounder position batteries
	3 x 6-pounder brigade batteries
	1 x 3-pounder brigade batteries
	1 x cavalry battery

Infantry: 22,179 as compared to 21,592 (as of 12 April) in the book.

Cavalry: 2,218 as compared to 2,251 (as of 12 April) in the book.

Guns: 68

§ Figures gives full strengths, but third battalions were still en route to the army.

VI Corps: FML von Hiller[8]
		bns / sqdns	present under arms
Staff Dragoons (one wing)		-	29
Staff Infantry (one company)		-	126
6th Pioneer Division			247

Advance Guard: GM von Nordmann
	Warasdin-St. Georg Grenz Infantry Regiment No. 6	2	2,317
	Liechtenstein Hussars No. 7	4	(see below)
	1 x cavalry battery

Division: FML von Kottulinsky
Brigade: GM Hohenfeld
	Klebek Infantry Regiment No. 14	3	3,726
	Jordis Infantry Regiment No. 59	3	3,779

Division: FML von Vincent
Brigade: GM Weissenwolf
	Deutschmeister Infantry Regiment No. 4	3	2,685
	Kerpen Infantry Regiment No. 49	3	3,486
Brigade: GM Hoffmeister von Hoffeneck
	Benjovszky Infantry Regiment No. 31	3	2,144
	Splényi Infantry Regiment No. 51	3	2,093
	Rosenberg Chevaulegers No. 6	8	1,175
	Liechtenstein Hussars No. 7	4	(1,027 total)

Artillery:
	3 x 12-pounder position batteries
	3 x 6-pounder position batteries
	3 x 6-pounder brigade batteries
	1 x 3-pounder brigade battery
	1 x cavalry battery

Detached Division: FML Jellacic
Advance Guard: GM von Provenchères
	Warasdin-Kreuz Grenz Infantry Regiment No. 5	2	2,489
	O’Reilly Chevaulegers No. 3	8	1,047
Brigade: GM von Ettingshausen
	Esterhazy Infantry Regiment No. 32	3	2,525
	de Vaux Infantry Regiment No. 45	3	3,279
	1 x 6-pounder brigade battery
	1 x 3-pounder brigade battery

Infantry (including Jellacic): 28,523

Cavalry (including Jellacic): 3,249

Guns (including Jellacic): 96

I Reserve Corps: GdK Liechtenstein[9]
		bns / sqdns	present under arms
Division: FML Hessen-Homburg
Grenadier Brigade: GM Rohan
	Mayblümel Grenadier Battalion (8, 22, 60)	1	819
	Leiningen Grenadier Battalion (25, 35, 54)	1	824
	Hohenlohe Grenadier Battalion (1, 29, 38)	1	824
	Hauger Grenadier Battalion (40, 44, 46)	1	791
	Cappy Grenadier Battalion (12, 20, 23)	1	822
	Peccaduc* Grenadier Battalion (9, 55, 56)	1	794
	Weiniawsky Grenadier Battalion (10, 11, 47)	1	827
	Nissel Grenadier Battalion (15, 28, 57)	1	842
	Stark Grenadier Battalion (7, 18, 21)	1	820
	Georgy Grenadier Battalion (17, 36, 42)	1	812
	Bissingen Grenadier Battalion (3, 50, 58)	1	808
	Hahn Grenadier Battalion (2, 33, 39)	1	789
Brigade: GM von Siegenthal
	Erzherzog Franz Cuirassiers, No. 2	6	754
	Herzog Albert Cuirassiers, No. 3	6	698
Brigade: GM von Lederer
	Kronprinz Erzherzog Ferdinand Cuirassiers, No. 4	6	762
	Hohenzollern Cuirassiers, No. 8	6	705
Artillery		-	322
	2 x 6-pounder brigade batteries
	3 x cavalry batteries

Infantry: 9,772 as compared to 11,619 in the book.

Cavalry: 2,919 as compared to 2,750 in the book.

Guns: 34

* Listed at ‘Le Grand’.

II Reserve Corps: FML Kienmayer[10]
		bns / sqdns	present under arms
Grenadier Brigade: GM d’Aspre
	Puteany Grenadier Battalion (14, 45, 59)	1	659
	Brzezinski Grenadier Battalion (24, 30, 41)	1	714
	Scovaud Grenadier Battalion (4, 49, 63)	1	679
	Kirchenbetter Grenadier Battalion (34, 37, 48)	1	658
	Scharlach Grenadier Battalion (31, 32, 51)	1	630
Brigade: GM von Schneller
	Kaiser Cuirassiers, No. 1	6	639
	Cuirassier Regiment No. 6 (formerly Gottesheim)	6	754
Brigade: GM von Clary
	Knesevich Dragoons No. 3	6	689
	Levenehr Dragoons No. 4	6	738
Artillery		-	[not listed]
	1 x 6-pounder brigade battery
	2 x cavalry batteries

Infantry: 3,340 as compared to 3,870 (as of 10 April) in the book.

Cavalry: 2,820 (same as in the book).

Guns: 20

Notes

[1] ‘Haupt Stand und Dienst Tabelle der kaiserlich königlich Armee auf Kriegs Fuss mit Ende März 1809’, 20 January 1810, KAFA, Stand- und Diensttabellen, Kart. 3729.

[2] Original sourcing: order of battle and summary strength taken from Krieg, I, Anhänge XIII, XVIII, XXVII; but Krieg does not give regimental strengths.

[3] Original sourcing: basic composition and strength as of 6 April taken from ‘2tes Armee-Corps: Operations-Journal’, KAFA, Operations-Journale der Hauptarmee und Korps, Kart. 1382; supplemented by Krieg, I, Anhänge XIII and XVIII; and Stutterheim, p. XLVIII. Strength of Zach (three battalions) taken from Rona, 408; the archival reference only lists two battalions at 2,033 men. Strength of Stuart computed by subtracting that of the 3rd Battalion (1,235 according to Krieg, III, 92-93) from the total of 3,700 in the archival record (which is dated 6 April, thus three days before 3rd Battalion was detached). Note that this computation for infantry is 279 men less than Krieg, I, Anhang XIII for 10 April (21,090); the source of the discrepancy is not clear, but it is small enough to be explained by changes in the numbers of sick or of small detachments. The archival and Krieg figures for cavalry are identical.

[4] Binder (I, 286) gives this battalion a strength of 827 (not including officers, musicians, etc. who would account for perhaps another 20 or so) as of 15 April. It is possible that a filler detachment arrived just before or after hostilities opened to bring the 7th Jägers up to strength. The battalion’s history (Kandelsdorfer, 26) states that it mustered 952 men when gathered in Bohemia in mid-March.

[5] Original sourcing: basic composition and strength as of 16 April taken from ‘Operations-Journal des 3ten Armee-Corps’, AFA, Operations-Journale der Hauptarmee und Korps, Kart. 1382; supplemented by Krieg, I, Anhänge XIII and XVIII; and Stutterheim, XLVIII. Note that this computation for infantry is 124 men more than Krieg, I, Anhang XIII for 10 April (22,555); the source of the discrepancy is not clear, but it is small enough to be explained by changes in the numbers of sick or of small detachments. The archival and Krieg figures for cavalry are identical. The third battalions of Würzburg and Württemberg reached the Inn on approximately 24 April and were incorporated into Hiller’s command.

[6] Original sourcing: basic composition and strength taken from Krieg, I, Anhänge XIII and XVIII, order of battle supplemented by Stutterheim, XLVIII and Treuenfest, Husaren-Regimentes No. 10, 240-43. While III/Bellegarde united with its regiment in Bohemia during the retreat, the third battalions of Czartoryski and Chasteler reached the Inn on approximately 24 April and were incorporated into Hiller’s command. The Reuss-Greitz battalion marched into Moosbach on the 27th and was sent to join Jellacic’s division.

[7] Original sourcing: basic composition and strength as of 12 April taken from ‘Vtes Armee-Corps: dessen Geschichte von der Zusammensetzung angefangen bis zur Auflösung 1809’, AFA, Operations-Journale der Hauptarmee und Korps, Kart. 1383; supplemented by Krieg, I, Anhänge XIII and XVIII; and Stutterheim, XLVIII. Reaching Braunau on approximately 23 April, III/Beaulieu was incorporated into the regiment during Hiller’s retreat from Bavaria.

[8] Original sourcing: Krieg, I, Anhänge XIII and XVIII. Regimental strengths for Jellacic were for 2 April from ‘6tes Armee-Corps: Journal über die Operationen der detachierten Division des Bn. Fr. Jellachich’, AFA, Operations-Journale der Hauptarmee und Korps, Kart. 1385.

[9] Original sourcing: Krieg, I, Anhänge XIII and XVIII.

[10] Original sourcing: ibid.

Placed on the Napoleon Series: July 2008

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