BATTLE OF SCHONGAU Feb 4th 1800 Tyrolia

General Hardegg's column has marched out from Innsbruck to deter General Moreau's advance on the capital of the Tyrol. At Schongau they were met by the exhausted General Ott, whose cavalry has been fighting the French constantly for the last four days, conducting a rearguard action that began at Vaduz. Hardegg determined to make a stand at Schongau, to at least test the strength of his men. A snow had begun to fall the night before and had not let up.

General Hardegg deployed his Corps across the Innsbruck road and waited for the French to come on to him. The Advance Guard or Tyrolian Light Division took up position in the wood and left of it while Horowitz held the right with Ott's support. The 3rd Tyrolian militia division would be an uneasy reserve. Snow banks were forming by the hills making them near impassable.

The line remained in place throughout the cold morning. There were brief periods of shuffling forward followed by a general shuffling back as the men tried to keep warm.

Finally, toward noon, the first elements of French infantry began to tentatively make their way down the narrow road and onto the snow-blanketed plain. The 3rd Division was not hurrying to give battle.

But they were followed soon after by the remainder of Lannes' XV Corps and elements of a cavalry corps. The road was packed with French troops as they debauched form the mountain passes. The cavalry of the Austrian Advance guard patrolled forward to harass the French but the battle line remained firm.

With intrepid élan, two Brigades of French dashed forward into the Austrian line to try to take advantage of a weakness in the deployment of the only Austrian battery. They attack of the cavalry would also catch a rooted line incapable of forming square. On the French right, more aggressive attacks by columns would drive back the Austrian cavalry.

There would be an opportunity for more heroics from the Ott Hussars then as they counter charged through the blinding white flurries and routed both French attacking columns away. The line was reformed by bringing forward the militia and General Hardegg awaited the next French push.

Darkness was fast approaching though and visibility was limited to little more than 100 paces. Still, through the chill evening, the Austrian line was holding to their ground. It was only now though that the French infantry brigades were able to be brought up to engage their opposite numbers.

At the close of battle, the snowfall had not abated and neither had the either the French ferocity nor Austrian tenacity. Darkness saved the Austrian column though and Hardegg was entirely aware of how fragile his force was. There was little fight left in their cold hands and yet, he knew, they would need all the strength and courage that they could muster in the coming days. They would retreat toward Garmisch and perhaps try another stand. Failing that, they would await the French at the threshold of Innsbruck.