Austrian Infantry During the Napoleonic Wars.

In Novi in 1799 two grenadier battalions stormed a hill defended by General Watrin's French infantry and captured it without firing a single shot. (-Napoleon, His Army and Enemies)

In Leipzig in 1813 "The 5th Jager Battalion formed square at a run(!), delivered a volley and waited its fate with bayonets at the ready." (- George Nafziger)

In Dresden the jägers moved through a hail of bullets and canister fire and leapt into the ditch. They pressed up against the palisade, tearing it down and climbing over and into the redoubt. After a hot bayonet fight the French were defeated and fled into the Hospital Gardens. (Nafziger - "Napoleon at Dresden")

In Aspern-Essling and in Wagram. the whitecoats fought like lions. "Austrian officers from corps level on down had harangued their men, stimulating them to a fevered battle pitch. Full of enthusiasm, on marched the infantry with bands playing and soldiers singing patriotic songs and religious hymns. At the front of their columns came sappers who wielded hatchets to breach Aspern's garden walls.

... As had occured at Ebelsberg, 'each street, each house, each barn' became the secene of fearful fighting as the battle degenerated into a series of small unit encounters and personal combats.

The French tried to blockade the streets with overturned wagons, carts ...The defenders held, only to confront a second and then a third attack." (James Arnold - "Napoleon Conquers Austria" p 52)

For More Visit:

Napoleon, His Army and Enemies: Austrian Infantry

http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/Austrian_infantry.htm