Battle of Wertingen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Wertingen
Part of the War of the Third Coalition
Bas-relief of the battle from the Column of the Grande Armée
Date 8 October 1805 Location Wertingen, present-day Germany 48°33′20″N 10°40′45″E / 48.5556°N 10.6792°E / 48.5556; 10.6792 Result French victory
Belligerents
First French Empire	Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Joachim Murat Jean Lannes	Franz von Auffenberg
Units involved
Cavalry Reserve V Corps	Auffenberg's Corps
Strength
12,000	5,500
Casualties and losses
319 killed or wounded	400 killed or wounded 2,900 captured

The Battle of Wertingen happened on October 8, 1805. It was the first big fight of the Ulm Campaign. French soldiers, led by Joachim Murat and Jean Lannes, fought against a smaller group of Austrian soldiers. The Austrians were commanded by Franz Xaver von Auffenberg. The battle took place near Wertingen in what is now Germany. The French won this battle, which was part of the larger War of the Third Coalition during the Napoleonic Wars.

Why the Battle Happened

Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte moved his huge army, called the Grand Army, across the Rhine River. This massive army then turned south and crossed the Danube River. They moved behind General Karl Freiherr Mack von Leiberich's Austrian army, which was gathered at Ulm.

General Mack didn't know Napoleon's army was coming. He stayed in Ulm while Napoleon's forces spread out. This cut off Mack's army from their supply lines and communications with Vienna, the capital of Austria.

Who Fought in the Battle

The French forces were led by Marshals Joachim Murat and Jean Lannes. Their advance group included many cavalry (soldiers on horseback). There were 42 squadrons of cavalry in total. These included heavy cavalry and light cavalry, like Hussars.

They also had infantry (foot soldiers) to support them. These were eight battalions of grenadiers and three battalions of light infantry. A battalion is a military unit, usually made up of several hundred soldiers.

The Austrian forces were led by Franz Xaver von Auffenberg. His group had 26 battalions of infantry and 20 squadrons of cavalry. They also had 24 cannons.

The Battle Unfolds

La bataille de Wertingen by E. L. Lami

It seems the Austrian troops were surprised by the French attack. General Auffenberg only managed to bring about 5,500 men into the fight. These included nine battalions of infantry and one squadron of cavalry.

There are different stories about what happened during the battle. Some say that French cavalry broke apart Austrian battalions. Other Austrian groups were surrounded and forced to give up.

Another account says that Austrian grenadiers formed a large square. This formation helped them resist the French cavalry charges for a while. However, when French infantry, led by General Nicolas Oudinot, arrived, the Austrians couldn't hold on.

What Happened After

The French army had 319 soldiers killed or wounded in the battle. The Austrians suffered more losses. About 400 Austrian soldiers were killed or wounded. A large number, around 2,900 men, were captured by the French. The French also captured 6 cannons.

Because they were cut off from Vienna, the Austrian forces had to retreat. They moved west towards their main base at Ulm. This battle was a clear victory for the French.