Historical Note
FML von Merveldt's troops were attached to Kutusov's retreating Russians when he received orders from the Austrian High Command to march towards Styria. Merveldt was to help Archduke John's army move back to Austria. When Kutusov found out Merveldt was gone he ordered him to return, knowing that he was moving directly towards the advancing French and would be surely overwhelmed. FML von Merveld immediately reversed his movement but found the route was very difficult and on November 8, 1805 he was forced to make a stand at Mariazell.
The Merveldt's Austrian force of about 6,000 men was attacked by Davout's advance guard brigade under Heudelet de Bierre consisting of about 3,500 men. After two hours the Austrians had lost 200 men, 3,000 were captured, and about 2,000 escaped. French losses are unknown. It was a stunning victory as these were possibly the best troops in the Austrian army.
Briefings and Orders of Battle
Feldmarschall-Leutnant Count Maximilian
von Merveldt :After trying to follow conflicting orders you have now become
aware that your force is directly in the path of the main French army pursuing Kutusov.
For the past two days your troops have been pushing and pulling your wagons trying to
escape. Today, November 8, 1805 you realize all will be lost unless you make a stand.
It is 6:00am and French infantry and cavalry can be seen starting to deploy.
What are your orders? For a detailed
Order of Battle click HERE.
Général de Brigade Heudelet de Bierre :
You are a day ahead of Davout's III Corps pursuing the retreating Russians. For the
last two days you have actually been pursuing Austrians. Eager to run them into
the ground you started off at 4:00am on November 8, 1805. By 6:00am you have caught
up to them and can see that they are starting to deploy. You have decided to attack.
What are your orders? For a detailed Order of Battle click
HERE.
Mariazell Map :
After Action Report
Before dawn on November 8, 1805 FML von Merveldt started to assemble his troops on the field east of Mariazell. He knew he had to stop the French who had been chasing him for the last two days or all would be lost. Rather then deploy in the open field he decided to hold on to every terrain advantage he could see. He ordered IR #4 to hold Mariazell, Grenz #12 to hold a rise north of the village, and IR #57 to hold the ground between them.
GB Heudelet de Bierre was eager to run down the Austrians he had been pursuing for the last two days. His brigade moved off at 4:00am and by 6:00am his troops were approaching Mariazell. Partly because of his eagerness and partly because of the limited space for deployment he launched an immediate attack. The 13th Legere were ordered to attack the Austrian center, the 108th Ligne to engage the Grenzers, and the 12th Chasseurs to attack the infantry south of Mariazell.
The French were on the Austrians within minutes of their deployment. By 7:00am all three attacks were executed. Two battalions of the IR #57 routed on contact. This demoralized the remaining Austrians and Merveldt contemplated ordering a withdrawal.
At 7:10am the steadfast I/R #4 routed the French cavalry and the Grenzers not only held the first battalion of the 108th Ligne, but they countered attacked! This was too much of a shock for them and they fled. The second battalion of the 108th was now sent forward and they quickly destroyed two battalions of Grenzers. The last battalion of Grenzers managed to not only withdraw to Mariazell, but also overran the only artillery the French had.
While the 108th was fighting with the Grenzers, the 13th Legere had been ordered to swing north to ensure the Austrians on that flank were eliminated. They routed the the last battalion of the IR #57 with their first volley.
By 8:00am Merveldt could now sense victory and ordered all troops to prepare for a counterattack on the rise now held by the French.
At 8:20am Heudelet could clearly see that not only was he outnumbered, but also the Austrians were planning to launch an attack spearheaded by the crack IR #4. With all his cavalry gone, no artillery and only three battalions left, he ordered a withdrawal.
Conclusion
Although the length of the battle was fairly historical, nothing else was. Once the Austrians chose to hang on to terrain features the historical use of a combined arms attack by the French would be very difficult. Still it was very close as the French cavalry attack was almost successful. It would surely have broken the Austrian will to hold.
The Austrians have finally won. Well done!
