Turns 4 & 5
The French success is short lived as the 7th Hussars, badly routed in their earlier cavalry charge, fail to rally and flee from the field. The loss of their comrades demoralizes the 1st Chasseurs. The commander of the 1st Chasseurs falls back to avoid combat with the superior numbers of Austrian cavalry, thus effectively ending the threat of French cavalry on the Danube River crossing.
Even with the loss of one of his regiments, General of Brigade Viallanes continues to press his attack with the 2nd and 12th Chasseurs. Riding through musket fire from nearby Austrian infantry squares and troops garrisoning Donauworth, Viallanes charges into the remaining squadrons of the #7 Chevau-léger.
Pressed for room to maneuver, the Austrian cavalry troops fight a bloody melee that manages to drive back the attacking French cavalry, breaking the French attack and buying a little more time for General-Major von Wacquant, commander of the #7 Chevau-léger, to figure out how to extricate his beleaguered brigade out of their predicament.
Having received word of Marshal Marmont’s success to the south at Heidenheim, Marshal Davout dispatches ADCs to call up his waiting 1st Infantry Division. First to enter the field are the elite troops of General of Brigade Demont brigade, the 13th Light Infantry Regiment.
Feldmarschall-Leutnant von Treuenfels’ preparations for meeting French reinforcements pays off as two of his battalions of grenadiers are perfectly placed to meet the French troops. However, part of von Treuenfels’ brigade will be in a precarious situation if it continues to engage the flan of the French 2nd Infantry Division.
Austrian Grenadiers are Ready to Meet the New Threat
Just as these French reinforcements arrive, the Austrian grenadiers make an effort to break the through the flank of the French 2nd Infantry Division. One of the converged grenadier battalion commanders orders his troops to charge the worn out French 15th Light infantry regiment, but the expert aim of the French light infantry breaks up the charge of the grenadiers before it hits. This forces the grenadiers to fall back and reform their lines.
Austrian Grenadiers Attempt to Break the French 2nd Infantry Divisions Flank
Realizing that that the French have started to call in fresh troops, Jellačić send orders to Feldmarschall-Leutnant von Brady to being sending the other half of his division towards the Danube River crossing. Von Brady beings to expertly coordinate the withdrawal of his remaining battalions, but he cannot hide this shifting of troops from the French. General of Brigade Locket, commanding the 2nd Brigade of the French 2nd Infantry Division, orders his battalions to redouble their efforts in an attempt to catch the Austrians on the wrong foot as they withdraw.
The 2nd Brigade of the Austrian 1st Infantry Division begins to Disengage with the French
This redouble effort expands on down the line as the other two brigades in the French 2nd Infantry Division make efforts to increase the pressure on the defenders of Donauworth.
Musket Volleys All Along the Battle Line
The Austrian efforts to slow the French advance becomes more daunting as the 2nd brigade of the French 1st Infantry Division enters the field. For now there is no room for this fresh brigade to deploy, until the 13th Light can clear the field of the Austrian grenadiers.
To make matters worse for the Austrians, Davout’s efforts to bring his artillery to the battle have finally paid off. Four batteries of French Artillery arrive and begin moving to positions from where they can pour enfilade fire into the Austrian ranks.
Seeing the mass of French reinforcements arrive, General-Major Hardegg (commander of the grenadier brigade in the Austrian 2nd Infantry Division) orders his battalions to begin falling back. With artillery on his flanks and more than double his brigade’s strength to his front, Hardegg knows his troops will not last long.
Austrian Grenadiers Begin Stepping Back
Not wanting the Austrians to get away, the battalions and skirmishers of the French 13th Light rush forward to maintain contact with the withdrawing Austrian grenadiers. Both sides begin unloading volleys of musket fire on each other as the battle lines slowly shift back towards Donauworth.
Sensing a turning point in the battle, the 2nd Brigade of Austrian cavalry moves forward to attack the lone French 1st Chasseurs. Having already driven back the 7th Hussars, the #5 Chevau-léger are able to easily force back the French cavalry regiment. This effectively ends the threat of French cavalry cutting off Austrian access to the Danube River crossing for the rest of the battle.
While the French cavalry is being forced back, General of Brigade Locket begins to lead his brigade in an infantry assault on Donauworth, but they are met with fierce resistance and thrown back out of the town. Locket begins to reform his battalions for another attempt and sends word to General of Brigade Grandeau to bring up his 3rd Brigade to support the next attack.
Fresh Infantry Battalions of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Prepare to Join the Assault
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