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.

Orders of Battle

French forces

General of Division Frédéric Henri Walther

Division of Reserve Cavalry

General of Division Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle

Division of Lannes' V Corps

6th and 11th Dragoons (4 squadrons each) 9th and 10th Hussar Regiments (4 squadrons each), and 22nd Chasseurs Chevalier (4 squadrons) 12 guns

Battle of Wischau

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

Battle of Wischau

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

Battle of Wischau

Russian forces

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

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

External links

Conflicts in 1805

November 1805 events

1805 in the Austrian Empire

Battles in Moravia

Battles of the War of the Third Coalition

Czech lands under Habsburg rule

History of the South Moravian Region