Battle of Biberach
War of the Second Coalition · Biberach an der Riß, Swabia, Germany
Summary
French victory on 9 May 1800 at Biberach an der Riß (Swabia), where Gouvion Saint-Cyr defeated a corps of Kray's Austrian army two days after Messkirch. The clash, in Moreau's Bavarian campaign, pushed the Austrians back and prepared the French advance toward Ulm in the Second Coalition War.
Historical context
On 9 May 1800 at Biberach an der Riß, 35 km southwest of Ulm, a French division commanded by Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr faced part of the Austrian army of Pál Kray during the German campaign of the Second Coalition. In late April Moreau had crossed the Rhine near Basel, captured Stockach and Engen on 3 May, then defeated Kray at Messkirch on 5 May.
Tactics
Gouvion Saint-Cyr caught the Austrian rearguard at Biberach after the Battle of Messkirch. French troops of the 1st and 108th line infantry regiments took part in the engagement that forced Kray to continue his withdrawal. The action was part of a series of close engagements by Moreau to outflank Austrian lines.
Consequences
This French victory was part of Moreau's pursuit driving the Austrians eastward and opening the way to the offensive toward Ulm and Munich. It followed the Austrian defeat at Messkirch two days earlier and helped compel Kray to continue his retreat in Swabia.