The French Invasion of Liechtenstein Part Two
advance. A second company counterattacked and ended the French breakthrough. The French under Massena continue to press their attack up the center on the road from Nendeln to Tisis.
Meanwhile another French force tried to outflank the Austrians by climbing the steep Hohen Älpele, a mountain above Letze, on the flank of the Letze fortifications. By 4 p.m. they reach the area known as the "Bear Cave". The Austrians sent their last reserve of four companies to the high ground of the Letzebühel. Other militiamen attacked over a nearby ridge and hit the French in their rear at the Bear Cave forcing the French to retreat. The French tried one more attack at 7 p.m. but it was utterly routed by a combined barrage of Austrian artillery. The Battle for Feldkirch was over. The French suffered 2,200 casualties while the Austrians had 96 dead, 590 wounded and 100 taken prisoner.
General Massena withdrew his forces to Graubünden and General Oudinot crossed back over the Rhine. The retreating French devastated the countryside as they retreated.
The Austrians followed the French back down the Liechtenstein side of the Rhine valley and retook the Luziensteig. Archduke Charles crossed the Rhine at Stein while Hotze crossed at Balzers. Between them they drove Massena back to Zurich. The French occupation of the Principality lasted only three weeks this time.
References:
Moore, Russell F., Principality Of Liechtenstein/A Brief History, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp, New York, 1960.
Raton, Pierre, Liechtenstein/History and Institutions of the Principality, Liechtenstein-Verlag, Vaduz, 1970.
Schlapp, Manfred, This is Liechtenstein, Seewald Publishing Company, Stuttgart, 1980
http://www.corbin-walters.com/journals_1...
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