Battle of Sacile The Battle of Sacile ( also known as the Battle of Fontana Fredda ) on 16 April 1809 and its companion Clash at Pordenone on 15 April saw an Austrian army commanded by Archduke John of Austria defeat a Franco - Italian army led by Eugène de Beauharnais and force it to retreat . Sacile proved to be the most notable victory of John ' s career . The action took place east of the Livenza River near Sacile in modern - day Italy during the War of the Fifth Coalition , part of the Napoleonic Wars . In April 1809 , Archduke John quickly invaded Venetia in northeastern Italy . On 15 April at Pordenone , the Austrian advance guard routed the French rear guard , inflicting heavy losses . Undeterred by this setback and believing he enjoyed a numerical superiority over his opponents , Eugène attacked the Austrians east of Sacile the following day . Though the two sides were equal in numbers of foot soldiers , the Austrians possessed a two - to - one advantage in cavalry , and this turned out to be a key factor in their victory . Eugène withdrew his army 130 kilometers to a defensible position at Verona on the Adige River , where he reorganized his army and received reinforcements . At Verona , the Franco - Italian army was secure from Archduke John ' s army advancing from the east and a second Austrian column threatening it from the Tyrol in the north . By the end of April , news of French victories in the Danube valley caused John to fall back to the east , with Eugène in pursuit . Background . Austrian strategy . In the early part of 1809 , the Austrian Empire of Emperor Francis II determined to go to war against Emperor Napoleon I ' s First French Empire . Austria massed her main army in the Danube valley under Generalissimo Archduke Charles . Though Italy was considered a minor theater , Charles and the Hofkriegsrat ( Austrian high command ) assigned two corps to the Army of Inner Austria and placed General der Kavallerie Archduke John in command . Regarded as " incompetent " by historian David G . Chandler , Archduke John had seen his first army utterly smashed by French General of Division Jean Moreau at the Battle of Hohenlinden on 3 December 1800 . In Moreau ' s subsequent pursuit , John ' s army became so demoralized that it was scarcely able to defend itself and suffered huge losses in prisoners and weapons . During the War of the Third Coalition , he had done better . After Napoleon wiped out Feldmarschall - Leutnant Karl Mack von Leiberich ' s Austrian army in the 1805 Ulm Campaign , John ' s army beat a hasty retreat eastward from its position in the mountainous Voralberg . He successfully linked up with the Army of Italy , led by his brother , Archduke Charles . Unfortunately for Austria , Napoleon ' s crushing victory at the Battle of Austerlitz ended the war before Charles and John could intervene in the Danube valley . At the beginning of the 1809 war , John controlled Feldmarschall - Leutnant Johann Gabriel Chasteler de Courcelles ' s VIII Armeekorps of 24 , 500 infantry and 2 , 600 cavalry , and Feldmarschall - Leutnant Ignaz Gyulai ' s IX Armeekorps of 22 , 200 infantry and 2 , 000 cavalry . The VIII Armeekorps assembled at Villach in Carinthia , while the IX Armeekorps massed to the south at Ljubljana ( Laibach ) in Carniola ( now Slovenia ) . General - major Andreas Stoichevich with 10 , 000 troops faced General of Division Auguste Marmont ' s XI Corps in Dalmatia , a French possession since 1806 . A body of 26 , 000 Landwehr stood ready to man garrisons and defend the Austrian heartland . John planned to have the VIII Armeekorps move southwest from Villach and the IX Armeekorps advance northwest from Ljubljana . The two forces would unite near Cividale del Friuli . Another source gave a somewhat different Austrian organization at the outbreak of war . Chasteler ' s VIII Armeekorps possessed 20 , 100 men and 62 guns in two divisions . Feldmarschall - Leutnant Albert Gyulai led the 1st Division while Feldmarschall - Leutnant Johann Maria Philipp Frimont commanded the 2nd Division . Ignaz Gyulai ' s IX Armeekorps counted 22 , 290 soldiers and 86 guns in three divisions . The 1st Division was led by Feldmarschall - Leutnant Franz Gorup von Besanez , the 2nd Division was under Feldmarschall - Leutnant Christian Wolfskeel von Reichenberg , and the 3rd Division was directed by Feldmarschall - Leutnant Vinzenz Knesevich von Saint - Helena . Feldmarschall - Leutnant Guido Lippa was responsible for 30 , 000 Landwehr and reserves . Before the Austrians launched the war , the Tyrol flared in a spontaneous revolt . The German - speaking Tyrolese under leaders like Andreas Hofer began driving out the Bavarian garrisons . Desiring to aid the rebellion , Charles ordered John to send Chasteler and 10 , 000 Austrian troops to help the Tyrolese . Ignaz Gyulai ' s brother Albert replaced Chasteler as the commander of a reduced VIII Armeekorps . The organization of Chastler ' s force is shown in the Tyrol 1809 Order of Battle . French strategy . Aware that Austria probably intended to make war , Napoleon reinforced the Army of Italy under Eugene de Beauharnais , building the French component up to a strength of six infantry and three cavalry divisions . Many of these " French " troops were Italians , since portions of northwest Italy had been annexed to France . In addition , Viceroy Eugène formed three Italian infantry divisions . The Franco - Italian army counted 70 , 000 troops , though they were somewhat scattered across northern Italy . Before 1809 , Eugène never led so much as a regiment into battle , yet Napoleon entrusted him with command of the Army of Italy . To prepare his stepson Eugène for the role , the emperor advised him how to defend Italy in many detailed letters . He wrote that if the Austrians invaded in superior numbers , the viceroy was to give up the Isonzo River line and fall back to the Piave River . The emperor noted that the Adige River was a particularly important strategic position . Napoleon did not believe Austria would attack in April , and in any case , did not wish to provoke his enemy by concentrating his armies . Therefore , Eugène ' s army remained somewhat dispersed . At the beginning of hostilities , the Franco - Italian troops were stationed in the following positions . The 1st Division of General of Division Jean Mathieu Seras and the 2nd Division under General of Division Jean - Baptiste Broussier deployed behind the Isonzo River . General of Division Paul Grenier ' s 3rd Division and General of Division Jean Maximilien Lamarque ' s 5th Division assembled behind the Tagliamento River . The 4th Division of General of Division Gabriel Barbou des Courières and the 6th Division under General of Division Pierre François Joseph Durutte concentrated in north - central Italy . The three cavalry divisions and the Italian Guard organized behind the Adige River . Operations . Archduke John ' s army invaded Italy on 10 April 1809 , with the VIII Armeekorps advancing through Tarvisio and IX Armeekorps crossing the middle Isonzo . After unusually rapid marching for an Austrian army , Albert Gyulai ' s column captured Udine on 12 April , with Ignaz Gyulai ' s forces not far behind . Planning on concentrating his army behind the Tagliamento River , Eugène directed Seras and Broussier to slow down the Austrians . But the two divisions were unable to halt John ' s advance . Even so , Eugène believed his army was strong enough to beat the archduke in battle , so he ordered his divisions to assemble at Sacile on the Livenza River . Because of the Tyrolese revolt , the viceroy sent General of Division Achille Fontanelli ' s Italian division to Trento on the upper Adige with General of Division Louis Baraguey d ' Hilliers in overall command . By 14 April , Eugène massed six divisions near Sacile with Lamarque ' s infantry and General of Division Charles Randon de Pully ' s dragoons still distant . At this time , the Italian Guard , Durutte ' s infantry , and General of Division Emmanuel Grouchy ' s dragoons were still assembling on the Adige . Before the war , Eugène proposed to Napoleon that his infantry be formed into three corps , but the emperor had not replied to this request . Because of this , Eugène army fought the coming battle as a collection of divisions , which had a detrimental effect on command control . Meanwhile , John used small forces to mask the fortresses of Osoppo on the upper Tagliamento and Palmanova south of Udine . The Austrians reached Valvasone on the evening of 14 April , but John ordered a night march . Frimont ' s advance guard was in the lead , with VIII Armeekorps right behind . Slowed by the rainy weather , the IX Armeekorps lagged behind . Battle . " The units and organizations of both armies are shown in the Sacile 1809 Order of Battle . " Pordenone . On 15 April , Eugène ordered his army forward across the Livenza . The French divisions of Grenier and Barbou moved through Sacile , while Seras ' French and General of Division Filippo Severoli ' s Italian division crossed at Brugnera and moved toward the village of Tamai . Broussier ' s division crossed the Livenza to the north of Sacile . Meanwhile , General of Division Louis Michel Antoine Sahuc ' s rear guard consisting of light cavalry and the 35th Line Infantry Regiment deployed 12 km to the east of Sacile near Pordenone . Sahuc ' s patrols brought word that Archduke John ' s troops were across the Tagliamento , but because Seras and Broussier had not kept a close watch on the advancing Austrians during their withdrawal , Eugène was unsure of his enemy ' s strength . Thanks to his scouts , Archduke John had a clear picture of his opponent ' s army . He ordered Frimont ' s advance guard to attack the French soldiers at Pordenone in the morning . At 6 : 00 am , the Austrians clashed with Sahuc ' s cavalry patrols . General - major Joseph von Wetzel ' s Grenz brigade attacked across the Noncello ( Foncello ) stream on the east side of the town , attracting the attention of the defending infantry . When General - major Josef von Schmidt ' s line brigade came down from the northeast , the French were compelled to stretch the 35th Line to cover the north side of town . Sahuc formed his horsemen north of the town , hoping to catch the Austrian attackers in the flank . But it was the French cavalry who were flanked when Frimont fell on them with four regiments of cavalry , routing them . Without cavalry support , the infantry in the town were forced to pull out . At Pordenone , the Austrians lost 221 killed and wounded plus 32 captured out of a total of 5 , 900 men and 15 guns . French losses were much heavier , 500 killed and wounded , plus 2 , 000 men and 4 guns captured out of 4 , 800 troops and 6 guns engaged . Many infantrymen of the 35th Line surrendered and the regiment lost an eagle and two colors . Historian Digby Smith wrote that the 35th was " practically destroyed " . In addition to the three battalions of the 35th Line , the 6th Hussar and the 6th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiments were engaged on the French side . The Austrians committed one battalion of the " Archduke Franz Karl " IR Nr . 52 , one battalion of the " Franz Jellacic " IR Nr . 62 , and two battalions of the " 1st Banal " Grenz IR Nr . 10 to action . Six squadrons of the " Ott " Hussar Regiment Nr . 5 , four squadrons of the " Frimont " Hussar Regiment Nr . 9 , and two squadrons of the " Hohenzollern " Chevau - léger Regiment Nr . 2 were also involved . Sacile . Aware of the French buildup at Tamai to the southeast of his positions , Archduke John posted Albert Gyulai ' s VIII Armeekorps and Frimont ' s Advance Guard to defend Pordenone and Porcia . Ignaz Gyulai ' s IX Armeekorps , which had arrived late in the day of the 15th , bivouacked just west of Pordenone . While his left flank held off the expected Franco - Italian attacks on Porcia , John planned to send Ignaz Gyulai first to Roveredo in Piano then southwest in a lunge at Fontanafredda and Ranzano . Still unaware of the presence of the IX Armeekorps , Eugène believed he faced only 20 , 000 Austrians . He boasted , " In one day I will retake all of the territory I have abandoned at the moment . " He knew that the Austrian cavalry enjoyed a numerical superiority over his own horsemen . Since the terrain on the Austrian left flank was unsuitable for mounted action , he determined to move against it . He appointed Seras to command both his own and Severoli ' s divisions in the attack . Eugène ordered Barbou ' s division to cooperate in the assault while Grenier pushed forward near Fontanafredda . Broussier held the left flank with Sahuc ' s troopers between him and Grenier . A four - battalion task force watched for an envelopment on the far left flank . Covered by an artillery barrage , Seras moved out at 9 : 00 am with his two divisions . They quickly seized Palse and began assaulting Porcia . Frimont unleashed the " Ott " Hussars , forcing Seras to pause in his advance . This bought time for John to send VIII Armeekorps in a counterattack against the Franco - Italians in which Severoli was wounded and his division nearly broken . At this moment , Barbou joined the battle and his division first checked the Austrians , then drove Frimont ' s troops out of Porcia . Seeing his attack having trouble overcoming the Austrian left flank , Eugène ordered Grenier to leave Fontanafredda and throw his division into the battle on the right flank . Sahuc and Broussier shifted to the right to fill the gap in the Franco - Italian center . Meanwhile , Ignaz Gyulai began his maneuver , leaving General - major Johann Kleinmayer ' s grenadier reserve to help defend the left flank . Reaching Roveredo around noon , he veered to the southwest , launching three infantry brigades at Eugène ' s thinned - out center about 1 : 30 pm . With General - major Anton Gajoli ' s brigade holding Grenier ' s division near Ronche , the IX Armeekorps threatened to overwhelm Broussier . Grenier rapidly disengaged most of his troops and sent them back to defend Fontanafredda , while Broussier counterattacked near Vignovo . In the center , there was bitter fighting near Ronche as the French repelled one attack only to have the Austrian mount a second one . Eugène refused to commit Sahuc ' s cavalry in the face of the Austrian superiority in cavalry . During this crisis , Seras lost Porcia to an Austrian attack . Seeing that his main attack failed , Eugène ordered a withdrawal at 5 : 00 pm . On the right flank , Severoli and Barbou ' s troops covered the withdrawal . Historian Frederick C . Schneid believed that a mass cavalry attack " could have smashed " Grenier and Broussier , but Ignaz Gyulai kept Wolfskeel ' s cavalry behind his infantry . Instead , Sahuc ' s threatened attack pinned the IX Armeekorps long enough for Broussier and Grenier to get away . The two divisions retreated in square , each division lending support to the other . They finally reached the Livenza after numerous clashes with their Austrian pursuers . Nightfall allowed the two divisions to safely cross to the west side of the river . Seras , Barbou , and Severoli crossed the Livenza at Brugnera the following morning . Result . The Franco - Italian army suffered 3 , 000 killed and wounded at Sacile . An additional 3 , 500 soldiers , 19 guns , 23 ammunition wagons , and two colors fell into the hands of the Austrians . Pagès was wounded and captured while Teste was wounded . According to Smith , the Austrians lost 2 , 617 killed and wounded , 532 captured , and 697 missing . Schneid gives 3 , 600 Austrian casualties and 500 captured . Archduke John decided not to follow up his victory , since the VIII Armeekorps was mauled in the fighting near Porcia and the IX Armeekorps cavalry was worn out . Instead , Frimont trailed after the Army of Italy with his advance guard . Schneid says , " John ' s failure to pursue one week after Sacile was one of his greatest blunders " . On the evening of the battle , Lamarque and Pully reached Conegliano after being delayed by wet weather and bad roads . Eugène used the two divisions as a rear guard as his defeated troops straggled back to the Piave . He also sent Barbou and ten battalions to reinforce Venice , forcing John to detach a force to mask the Adriatic Sea port . The Franco - Italian army held the line of the Piave for four days , but fell back toward the Brenta River on 21 April . When the Army of Inner Austria arrived near Verona on 28 April , it found Eugène in a strong defensive position behind the Adige . Meanwhile , Chasteler captured Innsbruck on 12 April and Trento on the upper Adige on 23 April . The Tyrol detachment advanced as far as Roveredo on 26 April before being halted by Baraguey d ' Hilliers . Napoleon was enraged at his stepson ' s fumbling and he proposed to replace him with Marshal Joachim Murat who was King of Naples at the time . Nothing came of this threat because by the time his letter arrived , Eugène was advancing again . The viceroy had accumulated reinforcements as he retreated , so that his army numbered 60 , 000 by the time it reached the Adige . Meanwhile , John ' s army shrank as it detached a force to observe Venice and a brigade to reinforce Chasteler . News of Napoleon ' s victory over Archduke Charles at the Battle of Eckmühl on 22 April caused Archduke John to fall back toward Austria at the beginning of May . The next engagements between John and Eugène were the Battle of Caldiero in the last days of April and the Battle of Piave River on 8 May .