Battle of Feldkirch
The Battle of Feldkirch (23 March 1799) saw some French corps led by André Masséna attack a weaker Austrian force under Franz Jellacic. Defending fortified positions, the Austrians repulsed all of the French columns, though the struggle lasted until nightfall. This and other French setbacks in southern Germany soon caused Masséna to go on the defensive. The War of the Second Coalition combat occurred at the Austrian town of Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, located 158 kilometres (98 mi) west of Innsbruck.
| Battle of Feldkirch | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of War of the Second Coalition | |||||||
The Ill River runs through rugged terrain near Feldkirch. | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Austria | France | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Franz Jelačić | André Masséna | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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5,500 regular infantry, 2 squadrons, unknown number of militia or: 4,500 regular army, 3,000 militia | 12,000–13,000 regular infantry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 900 | 1,500–3,000 | ||||||
Austria
On a flimsy pretext, a French army invaded Switzerland in January 1798 and forced the country into an uneasy alliance marked by occasional revolts. By the start of hostilities with Austria in early 1799, Masséna was in command of the Army of Helvetia. Going on the offensive, the French inflicted defeats on the Austrians at Maienfeld, Chur and Feldkirch on 6 and 7 March. Ordered to attack Feldkirch in late March by his superior Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Masséna attacked with troops under Nicolas Oudinot. Jourdan's defeats at Ostrach and Stockach soon forced the French to recoil.