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| Christian Wolfskehl von Reichenberg | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1761 (1761) Würzburg, Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg |
| Died | 8 May 1809 (1809-05-09) (aged 48) Ponte della Priula, Italy |
| Allegiance |  Habsburg monarchy Austrian Empire |
| Service | Cavalry |
| Rank | Feldmarschall-Leutnant |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Military Order of Maria Theresa |
Christian Wolfskehl von Reichenberg (1761 – 8 May 1809) was a talented cavalry officer who fought in the armies of Habsburg Austria and the Austrian Empire during the Austro-Turkish War, French Revolutionary Wars, and Napoleonic Wars. In the War of the Third Coalition, he led a cavalry brigade in an escape from an apparently hopeless position. He was promoted to command a cavalry division during the War of the Fifth Coalition and was killed in action while leading his troopers against the French at the Battle of Piave River in May 1809.
Early career
Christian Wolfskehl von Reichenberg was born in Würzburg in the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg in 1761. His younger brother was Philipp Siegmund Freiherr Wolfskehl von Reichenberg (1762–1838). He joined the Habsburg Austrian army in 1788 at the start of the War of the Bavarian Succession, serving as a under-lieutenant in the Levenehr Chevau-léger Regiment No. 19. Wolfskehl served in the Austro-Turkish War as a captain in the Wallisch Cuirassier Regiment No. 21. During this conflict he was recognized as a gifted cavalry officer. He was promoted major and reassigned as "Platzmajor at Vienna in September 1791.
French Revolutionary Wars
In February 1794, Wolfskehl transferred back into Lorraine Cuirassier Regiment No. 21, formerly Wallisch. In September 1796, he served in the army of Maximilian Anton Karl, Count Baillet de Latour during the Rhine Campaign of 1796 in the War of the First Coalition. Because an Austrian force at Scharnitz was under French pressure, Wolfskehl was ordered to march to Starnberg with four squadrons of the Lorraine Regiment, two squadrons of the Slavonisch Hussar Regiment, and two artillery pieces. He carried out his diversion to Starnberg, but found that there was a French artillery unit camped at Dachau on the outskirts of Munich. He decided to raid the camp, and on 7 September his horsemen surprised and routed the French. His cavalrymen carried off 300 prisoners, several guns, and ammunition.
On 20 September 1796, Wolfskehl's corps commander Feldmarschall-Leutnant Michael von Fröhlich ordered him to lead a vanguard of one squadron of the Lorraine Regiment and three infantry companies to Isny im Allgäu. Wolfskehl found the town deserted and pushed on to a place called Dortweil where he was attacked by French troops from Pierre Marie Barthélemy Ferino's division. Despite being heavily outnumbered, his force held off the French for three hours until Fröhlich's main body arrived. At this time, Wolfskehl led the Lorraine Regiment in a rapid attack, driving off and capturing 650 French soldiers. The Lorraine Regiment fought in the Austrian victory at the Battle of Schliengen on 24 October 1796.
Notes
- ^ Smith & Kudrna 2008.
- ^ Ebert 2022.
- Smith 1998, p. 126.
References
- Arnold, James R. (1995). Napoleon Conquers Austria. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-94694-0.
- Arnold, James R. (2005). Marengo & Hohenlinden: Napoleon's Rise to Power. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword. ISBN 1-84415-279-0.
- Bowden, Scotty; Tarbox, Charlie (1980). Armies on the Danube 1809. Arlington, Tex.: Empire Games Press.
- Ebert, Jens Florian (2022). "Field Marshal Lieutenant Freiherr Wolfskehl von Reichenberg" (in German). Die Österreichischen Generäle 1792-1815. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- Schneid, Frederick C. (2002). Napoleon's Italian Campaigns: 1805-1815. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-96875-8.
- Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
- Smith, Digby; Kudrna, Leopold (2008). "Austrian Generals of 1792-1815: Wolfskehl zu Reichenberg, Christian Freiherr von". napoleon-series.org. Retrieved 9 December 2024.