October 11^th 1805. It's been a hard day for Major General Dupont. Leading just 5,275 men making up the first division of the VI Corps of Marshal Ney, he is tasked to engage nearly 23,000 Austrian troops quartered in Ulm commanded by Mack. We chose this confrontation to illustrate the some of principles HistWar: Les Grognards. The limited number of participants will facilitate the understanding of the different game concepts before you try out one of the larger, more complex battles, like Austerlitz on December 2^nd.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The protagonists certainly didn't want the battle of Haslach Jungingen to take place. When Major General Dupont (1^st Division, 6^th Corps of Ney) arrives in Ulm, he expects to encounter Mack's rearguard, not a huge army.

Napoleon's strategy was to engage the rearguard of the Austrian general. He asked Lannes to make a demonstration on the edge of the Black Forest in order to gain the attention of the army quartered in Ulm, waiting for Austro-Russian reinforcements. The plan worked perfectly. After a few confrontations in Wertingen and Gunzburg, the French army settled in the Ausbourg area. Napoleon decided then to let Murat command an army composed of the Cavalry Reserve and of the 5^th and 6^th Corps (Lannes and Ney). Its objective was to follow Mack to the south when he leaves Ulm. Murat wants his entire army to be on the right bank of the Danube. Ney does not agree; he thinks that the opposing general could try to escape to the north and asks his senior during a stormy discussion to bring his Corps back on the left bank of the river. On October 10^th, the 6^th Corps is indeed split into two parts; the biggest part, with the bulk of the French army, is standing south of the Danube. The situation is quite different for General Dupont who has been ordered to move towards Ulm in order to fix what the general staff supposes to be the Austrian rearguard. During these events, the first Division keeps on advancing.

Strategic map of Haslach Jungingen

It arrives in Ulm. The scouts report that the enemy's strength is considerable. After his own observation of the situation, the French general has only two solutions:

• Moving back, which will probably result in an Austrian pursuit ( it is not easy to stand fast while retreating!),
• Keeping on moving forward, in battle formation and let the enemy think that the 5,000 soldiers are just the advanced guard of the army.

The French general doesn't hesitate. He decides first to form a defensive line in Halsach and to progress to the south and to the Danube. This situation doesn't seem save to him; it leaves a passage to the north where the Austrians will probably sweep through to attack his right wing. Dupont notices the small village of Jungingen on the west. Far from Haslach, it nevertheless blocks the passage threatening his right wing. His decision is made: the grenadier and carabineer companies of the six regiments will form a temporary battalion which will take possession of Jungingen, backed by the 9^th Light Infantry Regiment. The 96^th, the 32^nd of the line and the foot artillery will be deployed in Haslach. The cavalry will be the reserve of the army. Moreover, he sends a message to the general Baraguey of Hilliers asking to join him with his division of dismounted dragoons. The Austrians react quickly; nevertheless, their light cavalry did not complete their observations. Mack doesn't know if what he sees is the advanced guard of a more numerous army or just a remote group of soldiers; probably the former. Dupont misled him and this stratagem will prevent the Austrians from engaging all their forces. Everything is in place for the first act which will take place in and around Jungingen.

Major General Dupont painting

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Chapter 2 - The village of Jungingen

A crack battalion now occupies Jungingen; skirmishers are deployed at the entrance of the village while a group barricade themselves in the church. At 2 PM, Mack deployed his second column, composed of the 8^th and 20^th infantry regiments, in front of the village. These men are supported by another two regiments the 11^th and 54^th. Thirty cavalry squadrons (2,100 men) comprising cuirassiers and light horse take up position on the left. The battle begins; both Austrian regiments form a thin line and attack the French skirmishers. The Austrians penetrate the outskirts of the village but all attempts to dislodge the French from the church fail. The Austrian losses are increasing. Outside the village the cavalry has also failed to make progress. It's 3 PM. General Dupont, who stayed in Halsach, observes the events. Leading the 9^th Regt light infantry and the 96^th line in echelon he enters Jungingen. The Austrian are amazed. many surrender. While they are escorted to Haslach the 9^th prepares to face a second wave of attackers. The Austrian regiments will be beaten off five times.

Finally, the Austrian cavalry begins to move. As they bypass the village on the north, both Latour's cuirassier and light horse regiments encounter the first battalion of the 96^th who form a square. Latour's charge doesn't affect the French cohesion; Mack is injured and must leave the field. The Austrian horse artillery fires at the French infantrymen, still in square. The losses are huge. It's time the dragoons intervened in order to help the infantry. The 15^th followed by the 17^th dragoon regiment charge but are attacked by both cuirassier regiments. The French dragoons retreat, rally and charge again. Once again, sustaining huge losses, they have to scatter; the eagle of the 15^th dragoon is taken. They rally once more. The Austrian cavalry is now divided and moves north towards the French baggage train. Jungingen still belongs to the 9^th...

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Chapter 3 - In the South of Haslach

Meanwhile, the Austrian right wing under Werneck and Riesch has deployed. Composed of four regiments the 36^th , 15^th , 17^th and 18^th it formed a chequered pattern and progressed towards Haslach without any reserve. The French 1^st Hussars charged the 36^th on the Austrian right wing and put it to flight. At the same time, the French artillery prevented the 17^th from progressing. The French 32^nd line, supported by horse artillery, rushed the Austrian 15^th which scattered leaving its two 6 pounder guns. Dupont rallied his troops in Halsach. The Austrian right column reformed and moved towards the village again. It is 5:30 PM. Covered by the 1^st Hussars the French division begins a withdrawal under cover of darkness. At 8 o'clock PM, the last shoots are heard...

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Chapter 4 - Conclusion

General Dupont's division has had to leave both cannons taken from the Austrians but marches with 4,000 prisoners and 5 standards. The Austrian losses are very high: 400 dead, 1,100 wounded; the French strength only amounted to 5,279 men. On the French side, 784 men are missing; 332 of them belonging to the 96^th. The 1^st Hussars lost a third of its strength in repeated charges.

Dupont's first Division is now to join its Corps on the other bank of the Danube. On October 14^th, Ney will cross the Danube again under Austrian fire during the famous battle of Elchingen...

Mack would certainly have been defeated on October 11^th if Ney and his entire Corps had been in Haslach. But this is another story...

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Chapter 5 - Defensive Tactics

Establishing a Defensive Strongpoint had hitherto comprised occupying a town or fortress (sometimes a combination of the two) and strongly garrisoning them. The numerical strength of the defenders was considerable thus making it difficult for the besiegers to take them. On the other hand these large concentrations of troops lacked flexibility and could be bottled up by a relatively small number of the enemy. In August 1804, Marshal Berthier - Minister of War - ordered the Marshals Soult, Davout and Ney to commence training their men in a new method of defensive warfare. The concept was simple. First find a building or a complex of buildings in the town or village which could be heavily fortified; the soldiers, under instruction from their military engineers would then commence to make the strongpoint impregnable. The strongpoint would then be garrisoned by elite troops, perhaps a force comprising the combined grenadier companies. The ground in front of the town would be occupied by swarms of skirmisher. Behind the town, concealed from view if possible, would be the remaining infantry and if available, cavalry.

The defense would comprise 3 phases :

1. The enemy, in battle formation, would progress towards the town or village and attack the skirmishers, who would commence a galling fire on them, all the while moving back and drawing the enemy towards the strong point...
2. The enemy is now in the village but in a state of considerable disorganisation; as they approach the strongpoint they are met with a withering fire from the defenders. Their morale slumps; their progress is halted.
3. The enemy, preoccupied with the battle for the strongpoint, fail to notice the French reserves who move from their concealed positions to envelop the attackers and attack them from the rear. Meanwhile, other companies and squadrons bypass the village and fire at/ride down the scattering besiegers.

The enemy has suffered a reverse but will certainly come back and try again; the same process will take place, reducing step by step the offensive potential of the enemy. This plan will be used very often between 1805 and 1815. Apart from Jungingen, we can mention :

• The village of Hassenhausen during the battle of Auerstaed (October 14^th 1806), superbly won by Davout...
• The village of Essling in 1809,
• Finally, Placenoit in 1815.

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Chapter 6 - Order of Battle at Haslach the 11^th October 1805

		Strength	Artillery
MACK		23000	30
Riesch and Werneck	Right column		24
In first line	Infantry	13000
Karl Riese IR15	3 battalions of fusiliers		6
Reuss-Plauen IR17	3 battalions of fusiliers		6
Stuart IR18	3 battalions of fusiliers		6
Kolowrat Krakwsky IR36	3 battalions of fusiliers		6
In reserve	Infantry (non engaged)
Manfredini IR12	4 Btls fusiliers and 1 grenadiers
Auersperg IR24	4 Btls fusiliers and 1 grenadiers
Erbach IR42	4 Btls fusiliers and 1 grenadiers
Erzherzog and Schwarzenberg	Left column		6
Erzherzog	Column of Infantry	7000
Erzherzog Ludwig IR8	3 battalions of fusiliers
Erzherzog Rainer IR11	2 battalions of fusiliersr
Kaunitz-Rietberg IR20	3 battalions of fusiliers
Froon IR54	2 Btls fusiliers and 1 grenadiers
Schwarzenberg	Column of Cavalry	2100
Cuirassier Régiment Albert IC3	6 squadrons
Cuirassier Régiment Mack IC6	8 squadrons
Chevau Légers Régiment Latour IC4	8 squadrons
Chevau Légers Régiment RosenbergIC6	8 squadrons
Horse Artillery	4 x 6 pounders and 2 x 7 pounder howitzers

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Chapter 7 - French Order of Battle - 6^th Corps strength 11^th October 1805

Source: Napoléon at Austerlitz Scott Bowden