battle december divisions french republic opposed austrian army southwest town french revolutionary wars austrians leadership forced enemies retreat sustained greater losses french located kilometers miles east munich west spring wrecked austrian defenses germany generals ran stiff austrian june napoleon brought reserve corps defeated austrians danube decisive followed success days later allowed french munich control danube tributaries far french pressing austria north italy truce ended hostilities rest summer despite significant losses decisive austrians reluctant accept peace terms summer truce november austrian french armies rushed come terrain east munich newly appointed commander austrian forces managed bring bulk army left wing french army near outnumbered french divisions fought rear guard action hours retreating good order instead casualties staff convinced enemy run austrian general ordered pursuit french forested terrain instead fleeing troops waiting austrians armies met decisive days later background coalition forces achieved initial victories efforts northern italy pushed austrian forces resulted negotiation peace april subsequent treaty october treaty proved difficult administer austria slow venetian territories congress convened purposes deciding southwestern german states compensate houses territorial losses unable progress supported french republican forces swiss insurgents staged uprisings ultimately causing overthrow months civil war early tactics employed austria uprising naples raised recent gains switzerland suggested timing venture campaign northern italy southwestern germany beginning armies france austria faced rhine led approximately troops addition austrian regulars force included men troops soldiers low quality men deployed east lake protect posted main body soldiers shaped angle rhine changes direction westward flow northern border switzerland northward flow eastern border france set main magazine near northwestern end lake day march french held switzerland commanded equipped army french troops troops available field operations watched swiss border held rhine fortresses offered plan operations based austrians push switzerland declined follow planned cross rhine near river swung north french column distract true intentions crossing rhine west wanted corps sent italy initial battles danube plain plans series complicated maneuvers flanked double flanked army army lay eastern slope portions army guarded passes battles fought army french republic army led fighting near resulted stalemate heavy losses sides main armies engaged captured austrian defenders joseph prince loss main supply base compelled retreat enjoyed favorable defensive position meant retreat austria switzerland cut french launched repeated fruitless assaults nearby austrians superiority position force 1st brigade took village heights gave commanding aspect subsequently withdrew forces followed closely french fighting nearby ensued action principally consisted man strong french center commanded assault austrian force austrians withdrew heavy losses time strategic importance danube valley french war goal occupy vienna force accept comply peace terms established required double invasion northern italy commanded southern germany campaign fell secure access bavaria eventually vienna french needed control danube new tactic stretch river site major battles thirty years war war spanish succession danube grows significantly volume making wide swift joins danube dumping massive amounts water stream enters danube significant city river family seat princes taking family blow morale prestige role protect small domains control bridges passages offered advantage transport prestige followed series battles clashes danube nearby bridges fell june french controlled danube crossings abandoned withdrew downstream french target day long battle control river austrians withdrew ordered troops pursue nightfall french controlled access danube tributaries far south banks north river loss broke austrian control strategic danube similarly italy french successes battles forced austrian withdrawal east france threatening northwest southwest austrians agreed cease fire subsequent peace negotiations complicated alliance austria britain prevented signing separate peace consequently british successful blockading french ports entered negotiations bolster weakened ally initially britain refused french terms offered counter terms september negotiations continued napoleon later claimed austrians negotiate good faith sought gain time rainy season winter army movements difficult entire season recruit truce july france austria agreed truce ended summer campaign southern germany emperor dismissed appointed brother year old command austrian army compensate young man inexperience emperor named deputy commander colonel chief staff armies prepared renewal hostilities extension truce signed september time fortresses ceded french concessions allowed austria augment field forces line infantry belonging garrisons meantime peace negotiations continued resumption hostilities summer armistice held november french notified enemies intention end truce weeks austrians distributed soldiers arc north south held troops soldiers defended north bank danube near main army infantry cavalry lay near austrians french lay southwest main army guarding line inn farther southwest occupied troops counter austrians french fielded larger array forces frankfurt main troops threatened northern wing controlled main army deployed wings strong detached force occupied north bank danube near man deployed west bank near soldiers center munich personal control right wing defended line upper farther west lastly strong threatened force switzerland unlike french armies revolutionary period troops late enjoyed organized supply service onset winter lengthened army sick list months long truce allowed units approach strength french officers confident success planned broad advance eastward inn fighting enemies found lead left allow right wing advance greater distance cover french wings closed troops look crossing sites aggressive persuaded launch offensive austrian chief staff planned strike direction austrians wheel left smash french left flank possibly enemies line communications west munich days november austrian army proved unable advance necessary speed turn french north flank aware adversaries advancing convinced convert flank march direct advance munich battle evening november austrian advance guard occupied dawn december left town battalions infantry squadrons cavalry approximately men led battalions squadrons soldiers right flank quickly overran french outposts nearly surprised division camp despite odds french 19th cavalry regiment charged attackers included cavalry charge gave time place brigade line battle meet shock division included infantry cavalry cannons brigades detached south inn conducted able defense 13th rode support directed fighting second brigade noon horse artillery battery led arrived accurate fire quickly austrian guns destroyed later pieces overrun austrian french gunners rallied recaptured pieces horseback charge battered launched attacks foot soldiers horsemen guns belonging division brigade belonging division marched helped block attempt turn hardy flank fighting wounded hardy caused hand command french divisions slowly pressed superior numbers gave orders withdrawal directed managed retreat road units falling orderly save artillery capture charged captured austrians falling french soldiers reached open ground assumed defensive position told battle lasted hours addition heavily engaged austrian units column plus column result austrians suffered killed wounded captured french lost killed wounded captured expecting fight major battle following day austrian generals surprised find french evacuated vanished deep woods caution victory inexperienced aggressive army staff convinced faced french rear guards erroneous idea prompted austrian headquarters ignore normal precautions come french force john ordered pursuit columns drawing strong column form northern flank chased french forest waited austrian force plain divisions cavalry reserve ambushed emerged forest complete victory division accomplished surprise austrian left flank crushing victory followed skirmishes clashes danube bavaria force coupled victory battle june ended war second coalition february austrians signed treaty accepting french control rhine french puppet italy netherlands subsequent treaty france britain began longest break wars napoleonic period
Battle of Ampfing (1800)