Anton von Elsnitz Franz Anton Freiherr von Elsnitz ( born 28 September 1742 in Vienna ; died 31 December 1825 in Maria Enzersdorf ) was an Austrian cavalry soldier and commander during the War of the Bavarian Succession , Austro - Turkish War ( 1787 – 1791 ) , and French Revolutionary Wars . Career . Born on 28 September 1746 in Vienna , he entered " Daun " Infantry Regiment N°59 on 1 June 1763 , then later the same year transferred to the First Arcieren Life Guard as Oberleutnant . In 1766 he transferred to a Cuirassier Regiment . He was promoted captain in 1775 , major in 1786 and Oberstleutnant in 1790 . He received promotion to Oberst of Chevau - léger Regiment N°18 in 1792 . He fought in the War of the Bavarian Succession ( 1778 – 1779 ) and in the wars against the Turks ( 1787 – 1790 ) . In the autumn of 1789 , he took part in the Siege of Belgrade . In 1793 he served with his regiment under Prince Frederick Josias of Saxe - Coburg - Saalfeld in the Austrian Netherlands , and fought at the Battle of Neerwinden on 18 March , Caesar ' s Camp on 7 August , Cysoing on 28 August and at the Siege of Dunkirk from 24 August to 8 September . In 1794 he fought at the Siege of Landrecies in April , Battle of Tourcoing in May , Tournai on 22 May and in the second Battle of Fleurus on 26 June . In 1795 , he and his regiment fought on the middle and upper Rhine . He was distinguished in the pursuit of the French after their defeat at Mainz on 23 October and on 13 November at Tellheim . On 4 March 1796 , he was promoted to General - major . Initially he commanded a brigade of four battalions and 16 squadrons in Pál Kray ’ s column in the Army of the Upper Palatinate under the Archduke Charles . He led a cavalry brigade in Wilhelm von Wartensleben ’ s corps in August . Detached with a mixed foot and cavalry division , he held up François Joseph Lefebvre at Schweinwurt , preventing him from joining Jean - Baptiste Jourdan ' s army at the Battle of Wurzburg on 3 September 1796 . He was in action on the Lahn in 16 September . In 1797 he commanded a column of Franz von Werneck ’ s right wing under Maximilian Anton Karl , Count Baillet de Latour , and served in the retreat after the Battle of Neuwied in April 1797 . He was defeated at Giessen on the 21st . He commanded a brigade in Italy at the Battle of Magnano , 5 April 1799 and the Siege of Mantua under Kray . On 27 July he stormed St . Georges , leading to the surrender of the place . He then served under Peter Karl Ott von Bátorkéz in August . Promoted Feldmarschallleutnant on 2 October 1799 , he served in Konrad Valentin von Kaim ’ s division . In 1800 he commanded a detached division of 25 , 000 ( soon reduced to 10 , 000 ) men facing Louis Gabriel Suchet on the Var River and was involved in clashes during the general offensive of 6 April . His right wing was driven from Sette Panir on the 10th . He repulsed Suchet from Monte San Giacomo on 12 April , and again on the 19th . Under Michael von Melas from the 29th , he captured Monte Lingo on 2 May . He defeated Jean Pierre , baron Pouget on the Monte di Toria on 7 May , but was repulsed from the Var bridgehead on the 13th . On Melas ’ s return to Turin , Elsnitz was left to command the 18 , 000 - man corps facing Suchet on the Var , around 20 May . Despite orders to the contrary , he again attacked on the Var on the 27th , and was again severely repulsed . On the 28th he began a difficult retreat . His rearguard was overwhelmed at the Col di Brauis 2 June , and on the following day he was seriously defeated at the Battle of the Tenda Pass . His rearguard was again overwhelmed at Pieve on the 5th . Eventually he reached Ceva on 7 June having lost half his command . With the remains of his force he concentrated before Alessandria on the 12th . He led the cavalry of Karl Joseph Hadik von Futak ' s central attack column at the Battle of Marengo on 14 June 1800 . Elsnitz retired in late 1809 and died in Maria Enzersdorf on 31 December 1825 .