OCTOBER 14, 1805...
On this date, the march of the French army almost resulted in the encirclement of the Austrians commanded by General Mack and whose main mass was established in Ulm.
Napoleon did not come, at the beginning, to direct the operations himself and his lieutenant, Murat, made an error which risks compromising everything:he sent Ney too far on the right bank of the Danube and he left Dupont's division isolated. which found itself engaged at Haslach against vastly superior forces; it took a heroic fight by his men for disaster to be averted.
The Emperor arrived on October 13, immediately he stormed on discovering that the Austrians were entering the wide gap that remained between Dupont, withdrawn to Albeck, and the rest of Ney's corps which was towards Gunzburg, on the other bank. of the Danube.
The bridge and the village of Elchingen are in enemy hands; the road to Bohemia is therefore open to them and this road leads to the rear of the French system. This path must be cut at all costs.
Murat accuses Ney. Ney who only applied Murat's orders, despite his disagreement, is furious but he will take care of repairing the damage in a magnificent way.
OCTOBER 14, 1805, 8 AM...
Marshal Ney has put on his full uniform, all his decorations, the "redhead" is "bad haired".
He arrives in front of the Elchingen bridge, on the right bank of the river. The bridge sleepers have been removed, but many are still in the Danube, against the pilings or on the bank. Moreover, General Villatte, who is marching at the head with his brigade, had planks brought. Opposite, the Austrian corps of General Riesch has been flowing for some time through the village of Elchingen which dominates the valley. The bridge is only guarded by 300 men supported by two cannons.
Ney immediately directs the repair of the bridge, the artillery protects the work. The voltigeurs of the 6th light, trained by Captain Caille, passed over the girders, followed by the carabinieri of the regiment and the grenadiers of the 39th. These elite men quickly cleared the outlet of the bridge.
The sleepers are laid at full speed and the marshal immediately leads the entire Villatte brigade, sets up a first battery and launches the 6th light towards the village and the 39th further to the right towards the Saint Wolfang chapel.
Meanwhile, General Riesch, seeing this passage in force, stops his movement, regroups his troops and prepares for battle. AT 9 AM...
The 6th light seized the entire edge of the village, but the 39th was less fortunate and had to reform under the shelter of the woods. Division General Loison had his second brigade (Roguet brigade) cross, the 69th is in the lead ahead of the 76th; the two regiments then climb towards the plateau. They were soon accompanied by the corps' light cavalry brigade, comprising the 1st mounted chasseurs regiment and the 3rd hussars:at their head was Colonel Auguste Colbert (of the 10th chasseurs) who commanded the brigade.
The plateau is reached, but the French right is threatened and Ney charges Colbert. The 3rd hussars are attacked by the Austrian cuirassiers. Domont who commands the hussars is wounded, his horse is killed; but the chasseurs clear the ground and the brigade rallies. These dragoons are those that the Bourcier division and especially those of the Laplanche brigade who arrive first.
The first regiment to cross the bridge was the 18th dragoons, commanded by Colonel Lefebvre-Desnpettes. He reached the plateau and witnessed the rallying of the light horsemen. In front, the Austrians are formed in a square and protected by grouped cuirassiers. General Bourcier orders the charge which is led by General Laplanche and Colonel Lefebvre-Desnoettes, the square is broken in, a flag and two guns are taken. The regiment, continuing on its way, tumbled the cuirassiers, 50 of which were taken or killed.
During this movement the Roguet brigade succeeded perfectly in its maneuvers and its attacks. The second regiment of dragoons which will distinguish itself is the 19th Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Caulaincourt.
After crossing the bridge behind the 18th, it is directed to the right and discovers a column of Austrian infantry retreating, the dragoons rushed forward and Lieutenant Pitard, infiltrating between this infantry and the neighboring wood, cut off their retreat, 250 men laid down their arms.
The Adjudant-Commandant Faurax also distinguished himself by pointing a captured piece himself. Further on, the regiment sees 4 squadrons of enemy cuirassiers. The first squadron can reach them alone and takes 20 horses from them.
Later, the regiment moving towards Nerestetten is suddenly assaulted. Night has fallen, the surprise is complete and the regiment is surrounded but continues its march until a new mass of cavalry. The retreat then becomes essential and the general's report says that it was done in order and without being started, which he attributes as much to the bravery and coolness of the officers and dragoons as to the talent of Colonel Caulaincourt.
The other regiments of the Bourcier division were mainly deployed in support and contributed more or less to the success of this day. Similarly, the Malher division will mainly play a reserve role.
Thus during this day all the merit of the success goes to the horsemen of Colbert, to the 18th and 19th dragoons and of course to the infantrymen of the Loison division who finish exhausted, so their general ends his letter, written at night to Marshal Ney, with these words ... "Cartridges, bread and brandy... and you bring us back to life".