Campaign Move 4

1200 3^rd September 1813

General Lichtenstein commanded the 1^st Austrian corps, with his headquarters at Obernzell.   He was confident that he could hold the northern section of the river Inn.

The previous evening he had ordered his 1^st division, already in the town, to prepare defensive positions and hold the bridge at all costs.   2^nd division would march through the town and then south to extend the defensive line along the eastern bank of the river Inn.

He was therefore totally unprepared for the enemy to advance at first light!

General Wrede commanded the 7^th French corps, with his headquarters at Passau.   He was a Bavarian, and commanded two of the three Bavarian divisions forming half of the Third French Army.

Fighting on their home ground, they were keen to avenge the Austrian invasion of their homeland in June.   Despite the risks involved in attacking a defended river he had no hesitation in ordering his 9^th division to storm the bridge at first light.

General Vandamme met with no resistance as he crossed by the Passau to Obernzell bridge.    His cavalry and leading infantry brigades had already secured the bridge before the Austrians were fully aware what was happening.

However General Beckers 10^th Bavarian division were 5 miles to the west, and could not be expected to arrive until midday. 

Until then Vandamme would have to hold the west bank against odds of two to one.