General Lasalle’s 1809 correspondence (II) …

Lasalle’s standing with General Marulaz was delicate. Marulaz was his senior: he had been appointed colonel long before him. The same decree had named them both generals of brigade on 1 February 1805. At Essling, General Marulaz had displayed the greatest bravery: he had had two horses killed under him and, in sabering two Austrians, he had his hat cut to pieces. Marulaz’s brigade during the 1809 campaign was as large as a division. It was placed almost constantly under the orders of Lasalle, who exercised the utmost care to ensure that his subordinate, who was more or less his equal, suffered no offence.

Hainburg, 25 May 1806 (sic) at 10 in the morning.

My Lord,

At the break of dawn, I conducted an observation of all the islands of the Danube which are situated in front of me and did not uncover anything which could provide me with reliable information on the perpetrators of all these fires which, yesterday evening, were lit for a few hours on various parts of the islands as well as on the left bank of the river. It is surely a kind gesture on the part of the Austrian outposts who intended to amuse themselves. A barge which they had in front of us was removed yesterday at 11 o’clock at night. The mass of fire which I had the honour of indicating to Your Excellency as being situated in the direction of Lassee and Matzen suddenly disappeared at 11:45 at night.

Yesterday, I forgot to report to Your Excellency that, at four o’clock in the morning, five pontoons covered with their trusses passed in front of Hainburg and in spite of the efforts which we were able to carry out, it was impossible to catch up with them.

This morning, I sent the 8th Regiment of Hussars to occupy Kitsee and observe the Danube below Pressburg. My reconnaissances on Engerau were unable to discover anything, nor could they see anything. They always notice the same posts on the left bank of the river.

General Marulaz noticed, like myself, fires on the opposite bank and some troops prowling around.

I am with the most profound respect, etc.

Lasalle knew how, while staying at the outposts, seemingly insignificant observations can suddenly gain in importance. He noted the smallest details with the greatest care.

Hainburg, 28 May 1809, at 9:30 in the evening.

My Lord,

The colonel of the 8th Hussars reports to me that he has established his first three squadrons at the bivouac under Kitsee and the fourth detached to Karlburg; the latter serving to communicate with the troops of General Montbrun now, and tomorrow with those of General Marulaz, to whom General Montbrun cedes villages on the left of his line. I will have the honour of reporting to Your Excellency on this transfer when it has taken place.

In order to position his vedettes on the banks of the Danube, the colonel of the 8th Hussars was obliged to repel those of the enemy and the cavalry posts which he has on this side.

This morning, at 7 and 9 in the morning, two small patrols of the 16th Regiment of Chasseurs presented themselves at the entrance to the village of Engerau and did not notice anything different. To reach this village it is necessary to follow a very long circular line, in order to avoid the waters which are now flooding a section of the plain and even this (very) village. Towards half past ten, Mr. Broussault, lieutenant-colonel of the engineers and geographer, accompanied by some men whom I had assigned to him to cover his observations, presented himself in front of Engerau, and, having had the village searched by two chasseurs, while he was finishing a portion of his work, saw some enemy infantrymen who were pursuing one of the two chasseurs by firing muskets. He came to his rescue and waited a long time for the second chasseur, who did not reappear. According to what the soldier saw and what was observed by several platoons of the 8th Hussars, who raced to the scene, the village was occupied by enemy light infantry, the strength of which could not be ascertained, although the enemy had exposed some scattered men and two or three small platoons. There were some cavalrymen as well.

According to the observations made by the sentries of the 16th Chasseurs who are situated below Engerau and near the Danube, it is certain that the troops who fired and who are in Engerau did not pass on the mobile bridge, nor on any of the barges which lie in front of Pressburg, because from this post one can distinguish all their movement and a part of the quays of the city; but it would be possible that, masked by the large isles which exist in the Danube below Pressburg, they come to occupy the woods which cover these isles and from there conduct incursions on the right bank, where they occupy no fixed post.

The Danube is expanding at every moment; even some of the houses at Engerau are already flooded and collapsed; tomorrow the sandy passage which serves as a road to reach the centre of the village will be flooded. These are the reasons which have persuaded me to not occupy it, even though I am well aware of the importance of such a post.

I have forwarded to Hungary the proclamations which Your Excellency sent me.

I will have the honour of imploring Your Excellency to request one hundred horses of the 13th Regiment of Chasseurs and eighty of the 24th Regiment which are detached under the orders of General Duplain, who was marching on Mariazell when General Bruyère lent them to him.

About ten chasseurs of the 13th also serve as orderlies to H. E. the Marshal of the Empire the Duke of Auerstädt (Davout).

I am, with deep respect, etc.

P. S. – Only two fires can be seen on the left bank.

Either permanent or temporary, the occupation of Engerau by the Austrians was a certainty. This important position opposite Pressburg covered their landings on the right bank of the Danube, of which the French had the greatest interest in remaining in complete control.

Hainburg, 29 May 1809, at 10 o’clock in the morning.

My Lord,

The squadron of the 8th Hussars established at Karlburg communicates with Rakendorf, where there is a detachment of the 7th Hussars. The village of Zorndorf not being occupied by General Montbrun’s Division, I had a post placed there, in addition to a second one on the road which runs along the Danube, from Karlburg to Pressburg, with the result that all the communications between my troops and those of General Montbrun are perfectly guarded, as well as the right bank of the Danube above and below Engerau.

Yesterday the vedettes and the cavalry posts which stood opposite those of the 8th Hussars, facing the isles of the Danube which stand at the level of Kitsee, retired. But at 7:30 in the morning, fifteen cavalrymen passed from the left bank of the Danube to the right and remained in the village of Engerau all night; they left this morning to return to Pressburg. They made use of the barges which were situated in front of the quays of Pressburg. There is, on the left of the village of Engerau, an infantry post of ten men, and, on the right, one of twenty-five, which withdrew into the houses as soon as my reconnaissances approached, so that it is impossible to determine the enemy force which resides in this village. The flooding still continues, approaching it is difficult.

I have the honour of reporting to Your Excellency that, according to what had been agreed between General Montbrun and myself, I was to place General Marulaz’s Division in the villages of Hollaïn and Schönesbrun. However, the cuirassiers of General Nansouty’s Division established themselves there and prevented me from entering. General Montbrun has ceded very few villages to me, so that my division, joined to that of General Marulaz, which constitutes eleven regiments in all, finds itself, so to speak, in a mass, the horses have been without oats for two days, the men soon without bread, having cuirassiers behind me and in front on my right flank, while the cavalry which surrounds me has not yet experienced any shortage of forage and is living in abundance.

Your Excellency knows better than anyone that I do not have the habit of complaining. I believe, however, that according to the liberty which you have granted to General Montbrun to extend himself on his right, he could offer me all the villages which he occupies on his left up to Brugg exclusively.

I will therefore request an order from Your Excellency which indicates a line of demarcation in order to avoid all disputes. I dare to implore you to answer my request as soon as possible.

I am, with the deepest respect, etc.

To be continued …

Source : Lasalle – D’Essling à Wagram, correspondance recueillie par Robinet de Cléry … , Paris, 1891, pp. 33-37.