Battle of Reinhausen

The Bavarian Campaign launched by the Austrians in 1809 had two distinct theatres. The southern front through Landshut was also supported by a northern attack across the River Danube with an attempt to “fix” Marshall Davout’s III Corps on Regensberg, and pick off his isolated troops. However, Napoleon arrived in the nick of time to counter this unforced mistake by his Chief of Staff – Marshall Berthier – and Davout was quick to carry out his new orders from his Emperor. To slow down the Austrian advance, Davout ordered a holding action at Reinhausen, fought on April 17th 1809. Morand’s 1st Division was ordered to hold the bridges in the outskirts of Regensburg, around the villages of Pfaffenstein, Steinweg, Stadtamhof, Reinhausen, and Weichs.

General de Brigade Guiot’s 1st Brigade, consisting of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of 17th Ligne, 30th Ligne, and 13th Legere, supported by a 9lbdr Foot Artillery battery were tasked to take and hold Reinhausen and Weichs, to delay the Austrian crossing the river into the outskirts of Regensberg. The Austrian troops of Klenau’s Advance Guard from III Corps, under General-Major Crenneville, consisting of IR25, and 2nd Battalion of Karl Legion, supported by the 7th and 8th Jager Regiments, and 6th Dragoons and 1st Uhlan, with a Foot Artillery battery and Horse Artillery Battery were tasked with seizing the bridges across the Rivers Regen and Donau.