Hello everyone,
After reaching my research material limit for the Battle of Thann, I have moved on to the Combat of Dunzling (Peysing) with General de Division Montbrun Light Cavalry Division and the 7e Legere. We are lucky to have the 5e and 7e Hussrds regiment histories found below.
5e Hussards
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=9Sm0ZetZOHgC&pg=GBS.PA94
7e Hussards https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=2aVkdf8TmVUC&pg=GBS.PA260
However, we are also lucky to have a few biographies with some great small details from General Montbrun and Pajol. Also, we have a great memoir by Hippolyte d'Espinchal, who was a Capit. Adj. Maj. of the 5e Hussards. He was in constant contact with his Colonel d'Hery or Dery and well versed in the numbers of men per squadron and such administrative duties. So my question is do we believe d'Espinchal who was at the combat, or do we believe the detailed work by Martinien and the regimental history? I would usually say using both is the way to go, but some details do not match.
According to d'Espinchal, Colonel Dery was seriously wounded and forced to relieve command of the regiment on April 19th. He later writes Colonel Dery was forced to wear his arm in a sling. This shows nowhere in multiple secondary sources on the campaign or on his service record.
d'Espinchal cites 5 officers wounded, 9 NCO's and hussards killed, 13 wounded.
Martinien cites 3 officers wounded and the regimental history cites 3 wounded officers (no Colonel), and 3 Nco's and soldiers wounded, and 2 killed hussards.
3. Even the Austrian sources such as Binder's Krieg 1809 does not mention Colonel Dery's wounding as well as multiple Austrian regimental histories.
Below is what I have so far,
5e Hussards
Officers: 3 (1) WIA
NCO's & Soldiers: 6 KIA, 13 WIA, 1 POW
NCO's & Soldiers Killed in Action:
Hussard Giordanino
Hussard Micot
Officers Wounded in Action:
Colonel Pierre Cesar Dery (D'Hery)*
S. Lieut. Georges Richardot: Saber cut on the right hand
S. Lieut. Arre Epinat: Shot that smashed the left leg
S. Lieut. Devaud Armand Gondoin: A sabre cut to the head and two to the arms
NCO's & Soldiers Wounded:
Adjudant Sous-Officier Jean Engelbert Vollet: Saber cut to the head, right hand, and a dislocated shoulder; taken prisoner (returned 04/20/1809)
Marechal des logis-chef Charles Françcois Auguste Kauffer: Shot in the left side
Hussard Acker: Saber cut to the face
Thank you for the help,
Michael
Thanks where can I find those reports ??
I found this is Saski Volume 2 page 263,
Les colonels Dery, du 5° hussards, et Lamaire, du 7° d'infanterie légère, ont été blessés; comme leurs troupes, ils se sont distingués.
So it seems other secondary sources on the campaign just missed this information.
Btw, Saski's book with Colonel Meda's after action reports are just amazing to read.
Michael
I agree your hard work is highly appreciated also that you generously share it.
Strange that this not mentioned in control's or like Six
Thank you for the link! It is on bottom page 231 to top of page 232.
Here a link for download
Hans-Karl,
I unfortantely do not have tome 1 of his memoirs, but on the 5e Hussards of Frederic Berjaud website, cites d'Espinchal for April 19th, 1809,
Ce combat meurtrier eut le double avantage de tenir en échec un corps considérable qui se dirigeait sur Ratisbonne et de protéger la marche de flanc de la division Friant qui cherchait à faire sa jonction avec le maréchal Davout mais il coûta cher aux deux partis. Notre brave colonel y fut grièvement blessé, ainsi que cinq officiers et vingt-deux hussards, dont neuf restèrent sur place. De son côté, l'ennemi perdit beaucoup de monde et surtout dans la poursuite du 7e Hussards. Le général Montbrun déploya dans ce brillant combat une valeur et un talent qui lui méritèrent l'estime et l'admiration des troupes; il eut un cheval tué sous lui par un boulet, et le général Pajol, sabrant comme un simple hussard, reçut une légère blessure au bras.
Sur les quatre heures après midi, nous passâmes tranquillement un défilé par une pluie battante, ayant à notre tête le général Montbrun qui voulut fort galamment remplacer le colonel Dery transporté sur les derrières avec les autres blessés.
http://frederic.berjaud.free.fr/Hussards%2005/05eHussards.htm
Thanks again to share your work, on what page of the souvenirs of Espinchal did you find that?
I skimmed through, but seemingly overlooked it, but found other interesting stories, such as general N... ordered Espinchal to shoot some Austrian prisoners of war, S.273
I also did not find that Dery received a wound, looking at Six.